Born and raised in the mountain town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Emily Poole (she/they) has been exploring the wild spaces of the western United States since shortly before she could walk. In childhood she harbored an intense desire to become an entomologist, but a passion for drawing (and a distinct lack of mathematical inclination) swept her onto the professional path of art. Opportunities to collaborate with scientists in the field through her degree program at Rhode Island School of Design opened her eyes to the enormous potential power of art and science collaboration to bring attention to issues facing the natural world.
Emily graduated from RISD in 2016 with a BFA in Illustration and immediately moved to Oregon, having made a vow in youth to one day live where banana slugs roam free. During her time in the Northwest, Emily has partnered with a host of conservation organizations to create playful and compelling images designed to bring audiences in to connect with their fellow species. Her work has appeared regularly in High Country News, and she has been the illustrator on six natural history books to date including BirdNote: Chirps, Quirks, and Stories of 100 Birds from the Popular Public Radio Show, Northwest Know-How: Trees and A Little Book of Hummingbirds. She is currently working on two new books on the seasonal wonders and under-appreciated creatures of the Pacific Northwest.