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:

The coastline has always been more than a landscape to me. It is a place of memory, perspective and connection - a space where life feels quieter, clearer and more grounded. Through my work, I aim to bring that feeling to people, creating textured seascapes that reconnect them with places they love and the emotions those places hold.

Working from my studio in Cornwall, I create contemporary seascapes using reclaimed textiles and other found materials. Each piece is built through layers of paint, fabric and texture, transforming materials into landscapes that celebrate the enduring relationship between people and the sea.

Following a twenty-year career in the fashion industry, I witnessed first-hand the environmental impact of overproduction and waste. Upcycling textiles has become an integral part of my practice - not simply as a sustainable choice, but because the materials themselves carry history. Like the coastline, they bear the marks of time, movement and use. A piece of worn linen, faded denim or vintage cloth already holds a story before it becomes part of a painting.

Texture is central to my work. The layered surfaces invite viewers to slow down, look closely and experience the landscape in a tactile way. From a distance, my pieces bring to life the shifting rhythm of sea and shoreline; up close, fragments of reclaimed fabric reveal themselves, offering another layer of discovery and meaning.

While sustainability underpins my process, it is not the destination. My work is ultimately about transformation - of materials, of memory and of our relationship with place. By giving textiles a new life within contemporary seascapes, I hope to create artworks that offer moments of calm, connection and reflection, while quietly reminding us that beauty can emerge from what might otherwise be overlooked.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design & Communication

• 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

• • 23rd May – 1st June 2025

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

• Inspire Makers – Falmouth, Cornwall

  • 1st July – 26th July 2025

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

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

  • 31st July – 3rd August 2025

  • Group exhibition alongside various global artists.

• The Old Lifeboat House – Porthleven, Cornwall

  • 16th August – 30th August 2025

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

• Salt & Canvas Studio - Lanteague, Newquay, Cornwall

  November 2025 onwards

  Opened public facing studio and exhibition space with fellow creative - open weekends for public display of rotating collections of work, open week days for appointment only visits to discuss commissions or private viewings.

• Cornwall Open Studios - Salt & Canvas Studio

  23rd May - 31st May 2026

  Open studio week at my studio at Lanteague in Cornwall.

• St Ives Society of Artists - Spring Open Exhibition

  1st May - 19th June 2026

  Group exhibition at The Mariners Gallery - 2 pieces selected.

Upcoming Exhibitions:

• Festival Interceltique de Lorient 2026 - Brittany, France

  ‘Cornwall at the Heart of the Celtic Sea’ Art Exhibition. Representing Cornwall with 7 paintings on display over the 10 day festival, which sees up to 1 million visitors from across the globe.

  Upcoming Education:

  • The Porthmeor Programme - St Ives School of Painting

    February - November 2026

    10 month Artistic exploration programme at the iconic St Ives School of Painting.

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
- 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 luxury creative experiences, including 'Wearable Waves' clothing painting, repurposed driftwood art, 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.