Emile was a prolific artist who was born in Oliver and lived in Victoria, with his partner Michael Woodman.

He worked with both paint and hand-made felt to reveal the human form and display abstract images. He paid such great attention to detail in creating his art, that it was not uncommon for him to ask someone on the street or a friend if he could study their hand or face so he could capture the grace he saw in life.

Art Deco painters such as Tamara de Lempicka influenced Emile’s art, but his struggle with HIV also taught him to live each moment, and in turn, embrace and breathe life into his creativity.

As a young man Emile trained as a pastry chef, worked for a chocolatier, started his own croissant business called C’est Bonne, and wrote and illustrated his own cookbook How to Bake a Cake. Emile passed away in 2003 surrounded by friends and family, but not before creating a huge collection of distinct and stunning art that showed his passion for life.