GEMMA LESSINGER

Name: Gemma Lessinger

Location: Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom

Website: www.gemmalessinger.com

Email: hello@gemmalessinger.com

Social Media:

• Instagram: @gemmalessingerart

• Facebook: Gemma Lessinger Art

• Pinterest: Gemma Lessinger Art

Artist Statement:

At the heart of my work is connection — to the ocean, to memory, and to the quiet clarity we all crave in a busy world. I paint textured seascapes not simply to capture what the ocean looks like, but to recreate how it feels to be near it — grounded, alive, and deeply at peace.

Growing up in the city, I longed for the coast. That yearning stayed with me until, during the stillness of the pandemic, I began painting the sea as a way to bring it closer. What started as a personal act of reconnection has since become my life’s work: helping others feel that same sense of calm and belonging, wherever they are in the world.

My paintings are layered with textures and materials that tell their own stories. Fabric offcuts, surfboard fibreglass, worn clothing, and reclaimed fishing gear all find new life within my work. These elements, many of them salvaged or sentimental, mirror the rhythm and momentum of the sea — shifting, expressive, and raw. My background in fashion taught me to see beauty in detail, and that instinct now lives in every ripple, fold, and wave I build into the canvas.

Just as clothing holds memory, my paintings become vessels for place and feeling — deeply personal, tactile, and rooted in sustainability. This same spirit carries into the creative experiences I teach. Whether through art or shared making, I believe creativity is our most intuitive tool for finding presence, peace, and connection — both to ourselves and to the world around us.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design

• Art and Design GNVQ & A-Levels at college level

Professional Experience:

• Nearly 20 years in retail buying and production roles within the fashion industry

• Started my Art business in 2020, working part time in buying career.

• Transitioned to full-time artist in 2023

Exhibitions:

·      Outlined Gallery – London

o   October - December 2021

o   Joint exhibition with 4 other Artists at Embassy Gardens – Battersea, London

·      Rock Institute – Rock, Cornwall

o   19th – 23rd October 2022

o   Joint Exhibition with Martyn Dempsey & Friends

·      Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange – Newlyn, Cornwall

o   November 2023 – April 2024

o   Work exhibited as part of ‘Storm Warning’ with a collaborative project with Waterhaul.

·      The Old Lifeboat House – Porthleven, Cornwall

o   17th – 25th August 2024

o   Self Curated Joint Exhibition with Seascape Artist Sophie Bagnall

•  The National Lobster Hatchery – Padstow, Cornwall

• May 23 – June 1, 2025

• A collection of paintings exhibited at The National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow, Cornwall.

• Inspire Makers – Falmouth, Cornwall

• July 1 – July 26, 2025

• A selection of works showcased at Inspire Makers Gallery in Falmouth.

Upcoming Exhibitions:

• Art Space Art Fair – Anantara Panierna Palace, Marbella, Spain

• July 31 – August 3, 2025

• Group exhibition alongside various global artists.

• The Old Lifeboat House – Porthleven, Cornwall

• August 16 – August 30, 2025

• Joint exhibition with fellow seascape artist Sophie Bagnall at The Old Lifeboat Station in Porthleven, Cornwall.

Permanent Displays:

Collections of work are on permanent display in the following luxury Cornish hotel & restaurant spaces:

- Watergate Bay Hotel, Newquay
- Lusty Glaze Beach, Newquay
- St Enodoc Hotel, Rock
- Bedruthen Hotel, Mawgan Porth
- Catch Restaurant - Mawgan Porth
- The Esplanade Hotel, Fistral

I also was selected to create a printed wall mural to transform a 15m x 9m wall for Spaceport Cornwall in 2022.  It was featured on news channels globally during the Virgin Orbit space launch.  Since then, Spaceport Cornwall has become a globally leading educational and business hub for the Space industry and my mural has been seen by thousands of industry leaders, government bodies and educational team from around the world.  To find out more click here.

Workshops and Creative Experiences:

I am passionate about encouraging others to explore their creativity. I offer various workshops, including 'Wearable Waves' clothing workshops, repurposed art workshops, and at-home courses. These sessions are designed to help participants connect with their creative selves and enjoy moments of calm.

https://www.gemmalessinger.com/creativeexperiences

Collaborations and Projects:

• Repurposing surfboards destined for landfill, old skateboard decks, wooden belly boards, and surfboard fins as canvases for my art.

• Collaborated with Newquay-based printer The Logical Choice Group and Rochfort Surfboards to create unique surf art pieces.

• Collaborated with global Sports brand Buff to create to capsule collection using my Artwork:

https://www.gemmalessinger.com/brand-collaborations

Sustainability and Environmental Commitment:

I am committed to sustainability and protecting the ocean. I support various charities, including Surfers Against Sewage, The RNLI, and Ecologi, which plants a tree for every pound donated. My art often incorporates repurposed materials, such as fiberglass offcuts from surfboard manufacturing, to build texture and depth.

Press and Publications:

• Featured in various publications worldwide including Vogue, World of Interiors, Home & Gardens magazines, and local publications Drift, Cornwall Living, Cornwall Life.

• Work included in private collections worldwide; from France, Germany, Spain to USA, Mexico, Japan, Dubai and Australia.

Skills:

• Acrylic painting

• Mixed media art

• Textural techniques

• Workshop facilitation

• Sustainable art practices

References: Available upon request.

Note: All information is accurate as of February 23, 2025.