Enchantment in THE EVERYDAY

From her Northumberland studio, Gemma Koomen creates whimsical wonderlands that turn the mundane into the magical, captivating children and adults alike

Northumberland in the dead of winter. Snow flecks the hilltops and the clouds hang low as Gemma Koomen crosses the moors, sketchbook in hand. “Even when the trees are bare and frost clings to the landscape, there’s so much to see,” she says. For Gemma, the outdoors is a treasure trove of inspiration, as reflected in her paintings of impish figures in acorn hats, gnarly oaks and delicate snowdrops. “I like to get outside every hour,” she adds, even if it’s just into the garden of her home on a farm.

Once back in her softly lit studio, Gemma explains her desire to capture “little moments of happiness” through her illustrations. From mugs of steaming coffee to vases of flowers, she imbues everyday items with whimsy and wonder, celebrating life’s simple pleasures.

“I aim to open up a little door of tenderness and notice the beauty of small things,” she says. Gemma’s work also inhabits enchanted realms. Her debut children’s book, The Tree Keepers: Flock, includes a dreamlike journey on the wings of a starling, inspired by the birds that fill Northumberland’s skies in the autumn: “Murmurations are like real-life magic

– they beat any manmade firework show.”

PICTURE PERFECT

Gemma’s work is as popular with adults as it is with children, as her 75,000 Instagram followers attest. “I try to turn the mundane into the magical,” she says. “In a way, I still draw the same pictures I did as a child: fairies and tiny people, animals and flowers.” But at school in south-west Scotland, her talent went largely unrecognised. “I was taught that the ‘correct’ way to draw was to observe and sketch delicate lines, but I’ve always drawn from my imagination, using bold shapes, so didn’t do very well,” she says. Teachers suggested she pursue an academic route, but her artist parents encouraged her to persevere.

A degree in fine art photography at Glasgow School of Art in 2000, followed by a Masters in illustration, led Gemma into website design. But becoming a mother in 2009 rekindled her love

of more traditional artforms. “Picture books became a big part of my life,” she recalls. “Through drawing and painting with my girls (Gemma has two daughters), I reconnected with the forgotten child part of myself, who drew characters and brought worlds to life on the page.” Posting her progress on social media, Gemma quickly accumulated a following. “It was – and still is

– a pleasant surprise that my work resonates with people,” she says. “I get lovely messages from people to say one of my pictures lifted their mood.” In 2016, Gemma decided to try her hand at full-time illustration, launching a website where followers could buy cards, picture books and prints, as well as ask about commissions.

A QUIET LIFE

When an editor from the publishers Quarto contacted Gemma to tell her she enjoyed her work, the beginnings of a story began to take shape. The Tree Keepers conjures up a fantastical community of tiny people who care for one another in their treetop home, inspired by the tightknit hamlet in which Gemma lives. The story follows Sylvia, a shy treekeeper who befriends a stray starling. Loosely based on Gemma’s daughter, she is an introspective heroine, a character Gemma feels is often absent from children’s books. “Being an extrovert is heavily rewarded in our society, so I wanted to celebrate sensitivity. The book isn’t about Sylvia

“I still draw the same pictures I did as a child: fairies and tiny people, animals and flowers”

overcoming her quieter qualities – it’s about her realising the value of them.” Characters represent all skin colours, too. “It’s important to highlight that nature is for everyone,” Gemma says.

Like Sylvia, Gemma is a quiet kind of creative, beginning each morning by writing in her journal to clear her head of intrusive thoughts and make room for inventive ones. Next, she’ll meditate. “I work most productively when I get into a good state of mind, and these rituals help me feel happy,” she says. At this point, ideas begin to emerge from the crevices of her imagination, and she’ll sketch them using a chunky graphite pencil. Once happy with a design, Gemma paints a more detailed version using black ink, then uses a lightbox to transfer the composition onto cartridge paper. The final piece is brought to life using acrylic gouache paint. Gemma usually works on several pictures at a time, all in various stages of completion. “If I’m using red to colour a berry in one painting, I’ll also use it to paint a tiny jumper on another,” she says.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Finished designs are sent to family-run printers Studio to be replicated on thick cotton paper, which gives the look and feel of an original. “I’m glad to work with other small businesses – it’s helped with resilience at a time when some larger companies would have had to scale back or temporarily close,” Gemma says.

The past year has been particularly difficult for her, as she’s been balancing home-schooling with work, but the orders have kept flying in: “I’m so grateful to everyone who bought my pictures during that time. They helped to support our family financially.” Gemma’s husband, Jody, is a furniture maker and also works from home. “I run ideas past him and he tells me honestly what he thinks,” she adds.

Last year, the Koomens collaborated to create wooden decorations, carved by Jody from ash branches and painted by Gemma. Threaded with a waxed hemp cord, they make unique tree ornaments, with motifs such as stars and white doves glowing from within the gloom. These are themes Gemma often explores: “One of my favourite things about winter in Northumberland is the clear starry skies. Being able to see the Milky Way brings me comfort, and shooting stars carry a sense of magic.” During darker days, Gemma’s playful prints provide little bursts of light and encourage us all to look at the world with wonder.