Emily Orley is currently working towards a practice-based PhD at Roehampton University, exploring the dynamic potential of built spaces and generally looking to deconstruct the blurry boundaries that exist between set design and installation art.

Previous work includes two immersive installations, Temenos (2004, London) and The Beast Within (2002, London); sets for Napoleon in Exile and Past the Land, Between the Line, two shows devised by the Signal to Noise Theatre Company and directed by Chris Goode (2003, London and Edinburgh); lighting and set design for The Awkward Position, a live dance/theatre event directed by Rajni Shah (2003, London) and sound design for Huis Clos, with the Flaming Theatre Company (2001, Edinburgh) and The Big Room with Signal to Noise (2002, London).

She has degrees from the Wimbledon school of Art and Cambridge University, and has trained in performance and scenography at the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris.