BFA (Fine Arts), BDes (Industrial Design)
Born in Rangiora, her whakapapa traces its roots to the small island of Whenua Hou west of Rakiura (Stewart Island) at the southern end of Aotearoa.
Kitson graduated from the Dunedin School of Art in 1996. She then worked at Otago Museum, leading to employment at many museums and art galleries in New Zealand and Australia.
After studying Industrial Design at Massey University in the early 2000s, she focused mainly on her design work. Becoming a mother in 2012 was a catalyst for Kitson to return to making art; she found printmaking to be the most accessible option.
Joining Paemanu Ngāi Tahu Contemporary Visual Arts collective in 2014, she has contributed to their major exhibitions at CoCA, Dunedin Public Art Gallery and the Asia Pacific Triennale 11. She is also a member of Toi Whakaata - Maori Print Collective.
Emma has a passion for hands on education and shares her love of accessible printmaking techniques through workshops which cater to a wide range of ages.