Filled with whimsy and wonder, the work of artist Gemma Koomen creates miniature fantasy worlds you’ll want to get lost in.

Hi Gemma! How did you get started as a freelance illustrator?

I got started as a freelance illustrator in 2015 when I decided to draw everyday and share my progress on instagram. I had studied fine art and illustration previously and after a break to have children I started experimenting with screen printing and painting.

Little by little my online audience grew and I started getting commission enquiries. I had fun working on projects for clients such as Flow magazine and Quarto books and have continued making work to sell in my own shop (gemmakoomenshop.com) and for select brands.

Can you take us through your inspirations and creative process when you start a new piece?

My process varies from piece to piece but I love seeking inspiration from my life; observing the natural world around me, the seasons as they unfold, my children and their interests. I am always taking photos and sketching on my travels and in my garden and I draw on those regularly for references.

I collect vintage botanical and art books and often refer to them when delving into a new project. Sometimes I will write lists of words that come to mind then sketch these things out. Once the sketched composition is in place I will move into painting.

Your paintings feature tiny miniature worlds that create a sense of peace and escapism - what prompted you to begin to play with scale of humans and the natural world in this way?

I’ve been drawing this way for as long as I can remember. Even as a young child I remember drawing epic scenes of fairies battling witches and flower people underneath furniture and on the back of my Dad’s discarded screenprints. When I did my degree in fine art photography it was a theme that played in my work using camera tricks and lens distortions to play with the scale of figures in the landscape. I am really drawn to the minutiae; the tiniest wildflower that pops up the grass or hedge, small birds flying in a wide sky, butterflies and bees.

I think there is something of wanting to slow down, to be deeply in the present observing nature that feels immersive and magical and you can almost forget about more of the challenging aspects of our modern life for a moment.

our work also evokes a simpler, slower pace of life. What about this do you think resonates with people so much in a fast-paced world?

This question leads on perfectly from my last answer. I think our fast paced world has so much complexity, choice and influence and it can be quite overwhelming and I want to remind myself and others of the simplicity, joy and beauty that can come from the smallest everyday things, that there is nourishment and vitality to be had in seeking out the natural world and observing the signs of the seasons that are around us.

Do you have any upcoming projects you can share with us?

I am currently working on my 2023 calendar and also a new series of work all around wildflowers which I’m loving. After a lot of years of feeling very stretched it feels incredible to have carved out a bit of space and time for creative play and experimentation, so I’m excited to see what will emerge from this.”

Thank you so much for chatting with us Gemma!

You can find more from Gemma at gemmakoomenshop.com