Emma McNally has lived and worked for many years by the River Thames, London, and her current studio is at the Woolwich Dockyard just beyond the Thames barrier. Her relationship with the river is central to her practice. McNally studied Philosophy and Literature before continuing her thinking through drawing, primarily using graphite on paper. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Hayward Gallery, London, Drawing Room, London, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Biennale of Sydney and the Museum of Old and New Art, Berriedale, Tasmania (MONA). In 2024 Drawing Room will present her solo exhibition The earth is knot flat.