Emma is the artist daughter of Daphne McCLURE and her husband, George, who made their home in West Cornwall. Emma was born in London, but described by Martin Val Baker (gallery review) as: 'Partly brought up in Cornwall, Emma initially trained at Falmouth Art College before doing a degree in Fine Art at Winchester and an MA at Chelsea School of Art.  Since leaving college, she has worked consistently as a painter and has had several solo exhibitions in London where she is represented by the Cadogan Contemporary Gallery.'

Emma McClure returned to Cornwall in 2012, settling in Newlyn, with a studio at the Exchange in Penzance. She has exhibited with her mother, and also solo at Badcock's Gallery, Newlyn, and at the Rainy Day Gallery, Penzance (Mother & Daughter, 2005), and continues to exhibit in mixed shows in London and Cornwall.

Her work is held in private collections in the UK, Europe, Hong Kong and the USA.