Although city born, Gemma Lessinger has been escaping to Cornwall on holidays since she was a child. It was here that the magic of the ocean crept into her heart and the urge to live by the sea grew stronger as the years went by. The deep yearning could not be ignored any longer, and she and her French husband departed the city life and moved to Newquay, Cornwall.

Whilst taking some time to settle into the ‘more relaxed’ Cornish way of life, Gemma embarked on developing her skills by using her experience to become a buyer for a leading Cornish fashion company. Travelling abroad and working tirelessly to provide Cornwall with the latest fashion pieces, this often meant that her brushes were gathering dust and paints drying out. Yet, frequent walks along the beach, with her dog in tow, rekindled Gemma’s love of the ocean with its beauty and mystery.

Until March 2020, Gemma had only crafted the occasional painting for her home by the coast, and gifts for family and friends. The enforced containment of 2020, restricted Gemma’s ability to enjoy her much loved beach escapes and encouraged her to refocus on her painting as a way of keeping the sea close by.

Since Gemma started her business in early 2020, she has built a community of followers across multiple platforms, who she hopes to inspire daily, with her love for Cornwall and creativity. She has expanded her product range into limited edition prints, greetings cards, digital photography and homeware. She has also been featured in some of the best regional and national publications such as British Vogue, The World of Interiors and Drift Cornwall.