About the county

For the average tortured artist grappling with a canvas that needs feeding, demands toilet breaks and heads home, at the end of the day, for a shower would be unthinkable…

Ad Shoot Taylor Bloxham © 2005 Rave Communications

But for Wiltshire based body painter, Emma-Jane Cammack, putting brush to a living, breathing and unpredictable canvas is all in a day's work. And as her canvases are human bodies it's just as well it is 'all in a day's work'.

Working out of a studio on the outskirts of Aldebourne Emma-Jane boasts an enviable portfolio.

Not only does her body of work include making a Blue Peter presenter (in just underpants) disappear into a wall but boasts the transformation of the Sun's page three girls into a pack of endangered animals for World Wildlife Day and one of her poster campaigns for Westminster City Council even gave new meaning to 'Adult Education' when London Underground demanded a cover-up.

But it's her most recent project that has bagged the most column inches.

The Scion Sisterhood Calendar 2008

The Scion Sisterhood, who recently became the first all-female crew to cross the Channel in a dragon boat, had also until recently boasted Kate Middleton (Prince William's on-off girlfriend) among their ranks until she withdrew because of security concerns

Scion Sisterhood Calendar 2008

But it's their latest project that's been hitting the headlines.

At the beginning of the year in an effort to raise cash, and a few eyebrows, the Sisterhood decided to launch a 2008 sporting calendar with a twist: 'Body Paint! The Art of Sport'.

The calendar, due to go on sale on October 10th, not only sees the Sisterhood in little more then body-painted sports kits but posing alongside sporting legends such as Freddie Flintoff, Ricky Hatton, Josh Lewsey and Les Ferdinand.

And the artist behind the bodypainting brush was Emma-Jane:

"None of them had ever been body painted before," says Emma-Jane, "but surprisingly most thought it was quite enjoyable and were happy to do it again.

"There were couple who were like: 'Oh it's too cold' but those were the ones who did it on the really rainy horrible days but generally they really enjoyed it."

Emma-Jane at her studio in Wiltshire

With 12 months and 12 different kits to recreate, Emma-Jane had to plan and design the optical illusion of fully clothed girls in everything from cricket whites and ski suits to football shirts. So it's completely understandable that on occasion a few shortcuts had to be taken:

"Normally on a photo shoot, with normal models," says Emma-Jane, "you would just paint what the camera sees. But on the Sisterhood shoots, because they were going out into the sport's grounds, we painted them front and back because they were walking around."

But on one of the shoot days everything went horribly wrong and instead of having three hours to paint the girls Emma-Jane and her assistant only had an hour and a half:

"Because we didn't have enough time we went with just what the camera was going to see. 

"They were being set up like a penalty wall, for a penalty kick, and as the goalie walked across the football field all he saw were the girls all painted but as he walked around behind them he got a shock because they weren't painted at the back."

Bodypainting masterclass

With the calendar due out on Wednesday October 10th Emma-Jane is keen to get back to some of her own projects:

"Adam and Eve" - short film by Isi Sarfati

"I've really enjoyed doing this calendar project, it's been loads of fun, but I like doing my own thing. That's the only draw back with the calendar it's all been painted clothes. 

"My own art is much more graphic then the body painting that I normally do, which is quite realistic. So mixing the two together is even more enjoyable."

And for those who would like to try their hand at professional bodypainting, Emma-Jane offers a series of bodypainting masterclasses, at her studios in Aldebourne, covering everything from Bodypainted Clothing to Camouflage Bodypainting.

All you need to bring along is a willing victim to create your work of art on…