Born in Dorset, Gemma studied illustration in Bath and moved to Cornwall eight years ago. She ran an art gallery in Mousehole for several years and still lives in the town and completing her paintings in her studio there.
Gemma’s work draws on her on experiences of, and affection for, the sea, and in particular the fishing villages of west Cornwall. She generally paints still life compositions, in soft and subtle colours, often with a back-drop of a Cornish landscape or seascape viewed from a window. In this she follows a long and illustrious line of artists associated with the county, from Ben Nicholson to Joan Gillchrest to Brenda King. The faux-naive style in which Gemma paints also provides a link to the St Ives School of the early and mid-twentieth century.
Since her move to the county, Gemma’s paintings have been taken up by several galleries across Cornwall. Her work is also exhibited by a select number of galleries nationwide.