About Me

Hi, I’m Lily — the artist and dreamer behind Lily Emma Co. I’m 22, married to my best friend, and we share life with our cheeky little beagle Buddy! What started as a creative outlet has grown into something so much more — and I’m so glad you’re here! I’m often asked how LEC came to be — heres how…

When I was 6 years old, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis after experiencing severe pain in my hips. I spent the next few years undergoing surgeries, countless appointments, and ongoing treatment until I was finally given the all-clear at age 11. I thought I could finally enjoy being “normal” — but unfortunately it didn’t end here.

In 2015, I started high school and made the footy team, I was so excited! But the next morning, I woke up in unbearable pain and couldn’t walk. The pain quickly spread through my entire body, and despite seeing numerous doctors, specialists, and trying every treatment possible, no one could figure out why. My mobility declined, and I relied on crutches and a wheelchair to get around.

Eventually, in 2017, I was referred to a Pain Management Clinic, hoping to find support. But instead of help, I was met with bullying from a clinical psychologist — an experience so traumatic it pushed me to the edge. It was the darkest time in my life.

But through the storm, my faith, family, and friends held me up. And soon after, I finally received the correct diagnosis: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder that affects almost every part of my body. For me, the hardest part has been living with constant, chronic pain. Along with the pain I also experience seizures and chronic fatigue daily.

Accepting my lifelong chronic conditions certainly hasn’t been easy, but one particularly hard day — a friend dropped off some blank cards. I started making Christmas cards for my loved ones and it was a small act that changed everything! It lit a creative spark in me and it gave me a reason to wake up in the morning and before I knew it, I was getting orders. 

That’s how Lily Emma Co. began — born from pain but built with purpose.

What started as handmade cards soon grew into something more. I started sharing my art on Instagram and selling at local markets. In 2020, I invested in an iPad and taught myself digital illustration. I began turning people’s most treasured photos into custom artworks — and those quickly became my best-sellers. From portraits and prints to cards, event stationery, and small business branding, I’ve loved every second of bringing beauty into others’ lives.

Lily Emma Co. has become more than a business — it’s my way of managing my pain and helps me finds purpose despite the challenges of chronic illness. I’m so incredibly grateful I get to do what I love every day.

Thank you for being here, for supporting my journey, and for being part of this story. I can’t wait to create something special for you!