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 create richly textured seascapes that invite people to reconnect with the places they love and the emotions those places hold.

Working from my studio in Cornwall, each painting begins long before I pick up a brush. Through photography, aerial perspectives and time spent exploring the shoreline, I study the movement, patterns and changing light that make every stretch of coast unique. Rather than simply depicting a place, I seek to capture how it feels.

My paintings are built through layers of paint, textiles and carefully chosen found and upcycled materials. Drawing on a twenty-year career in fashion and design, I use fabric not simply for texture, but for its ability to carry history, memory and a sense of familiarity. These layered surfaces echo the rhythm of the ocean while inviting viewers to slow down, look closely and discover something new.

Although many of the materials I use are thoughtfully repurposed, sustainability is not the subject of my work - it is simply part of my way of making. My practice is ultimately about connection: creating artworks that bring the restorative feeling of the coastline into homes, workplaces and shared spaces, allowing people to carry a place they love with them, wherever they are.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design & Communication

• Art and Design GNVQ & A-Levels in Photography & Graphic Design 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 - June 2026

  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.

  Ongoing 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

- Fistral Beach Hotel, Fistral
- 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.

• Continued collaboration with artisan jeweller Nalu Beads to create hand crafted glass bead representations of three of my artworks.

• 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 charity Surfers Against Sewage with every sale I make and regularly run art auctions to raise funds for other ocean focused conservation charities. My art incorporates repurposed materials, such as fiberglass offcuts from surfboard manufacturing, coffee bean sacks and tea bag paper from a local Cornish business, and upcycles old fabric and clothing 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 July 23, 2026.