We recently covered drop shipping - what it is, how it works, and why more artists are using it. In this feature we want to show you what it looks like in practice, so we sat down with motorsport artist Emma Capener to talk about her work, her business, and what the partnership with Klein has made possible.
Emma Capener has been working with Klein for around four years now. She first came to us after a prestige client requested a small number of limited edition prints of their commissioned artwork. Since that initial artwork photography session and print run, we have reproduced over 25 originals for her and she sells the prints through her own online shop, supported by our drop shipping integration.
About Emma's Work
Emma's work occupies a distinctive corner of the motorsport art world. Where others celebrate the noise, speed and colour of racing, her pencil portraits slow the moment down, softer, more nostalgic, focused on emotion, memory and the timeless connection between driver, machine and fan. Her aim is to create pieces that feel not just like artwork but like keepsakes: a lasting reminder of the passion and heritage that define motorsport.
A career highlight to date has been her selection as a resident artist at Escapade Silverstone, where her work was displayed alongside pieces by some of the most recognised names in motorsport art. Knowing that friends, family and even the subjects of her portraits spent time among her work on the walls is, in her own words, an incredibly special experience.
Her subjects are chosen, as she puts it, "100% on vibes", though commissioned work involves long hours hunting through photography archives to find reference images that come close to what the client has in mind. Emma licenses the reference photography she works from, ensuring her portraits are produced with full rights clearance. The results are striking: large-scale pencil portraits, often up to two metres, that reward close attention. The detail is extraordinary.
The Partnership with Klein
Emma works alongside her husband, who manages the business and commercial side of the practice. Together they have built a production partnership with Klein that covers artwork photography, print production, framing and fully automated drop shipping. Emma explains:
"Klein does all the heavy lifting for us and we love them for it. Having such a long-standing relationship with a partner like Klein has allowed us to not even think about the print side of the business the majority of the time, leaving us free to focus on other aspects of running the business."
The photography side of the partnership has been particularly significant. Before Klein, Emma had limited experience with print reproduction (as many artists do when they're focused on original works). As the scale of her work grew, often reaching two metres, the challenge of imaging it accurately became considerable. "I believe there are very few who could even fit the work into their studio," she notes. Klein's studio and equipment handle it without issue, and the resulting files form the master archive for every future print order.
Limited Editions, Bespoke Finishing and Framing
Every edition is produced on Hahnemühle Hemp paper, chosen because its texture and colour come as close as possible to the Rising 100% Cotton Mountboard she uses for her originals. Each print is colour matched by our team and proofed before a single edition goes into production, ensuring the final result is as faithful to the original as possible. It's this attention to detail that helps make the prints feel like the real thing, as Emma describes:
"Almost without exception, collectors comment on the quality of the overall product just as much as they tell me how much they appreciate the artwork itself. It makes me incredibly proud to know that I'm selling a product of such high quality."
Emma's limited editions are sold with certificates of authenticity on hologram-secured Hahnemühle paper and the option to order the work framed. She tells us:
"Several collectors have purchased their prints complete with a Klein frame and are always delighted with the quality. Receiving their print framed and ready to hang with no need to pop out for framing themselves, or as a gift which is ready to wrap, is a real value add."
How Drop Shipping Works for Emma's Business
The drop shipping integration works directly with Emma's online shop, and the moment a customer places an order, it enters Klein's workflow automatically. Emma describes the experience from her end:
"In practical terms the drop shipping has removed all of the administration, storage and cash outlay requirements from selling prints. A customer places an order, we are alerted to it, and simultaneously Klein is sent the order so that it can enter their workflows. The whole process is as seamless to us as it is to the customer."
Balancing a Creative Practice with Family Life
Emma became a full-time artist following the birth of her first child and now balances her practice with three children at home. It is a challenge she meets with characteristic pragmatism, as she explains:
"Being less productive makes you more exclusive, as one art director put it to me. Trust yourself to make good decisions without second-guessing yourself. Where you're not sure, a partnership with Klein will mean there's always someone you can speak to for advice."
Advice for Other Artists
For any artist considering a similar partnership, Emma's advice is typically direct:
"Don't overthink, just do it. It's very difficult for artists to relinquish control of their work and trust someone to do everything perfectly in the way that only they believe they could. It's in our nature. For me Klein has been a superb partnership and we've recommended them to several other artists already."
To find out more about Emma's work and available editions, visit emmacapenerart.com and follow her on Instagram at @emcapener.
If you are an artist looking for a production and fulfilment partner - from artwork photography and giclée printing to international drop shipping and framing, we would be glad to hear from you.
Get in touch with David and the team at info@kleineditions.com
