ARTIST FEATURE - GEMMA GRIFFITHS

ARTIST | FEATURE

GEMMA GRIFFITHS

Gemma Griffiths is a land and seascape artist based in the Malvern Hills. Exploring the wilds of nature, she splits her time between her home and the coastal paths and beaches of West Wales, West Cornwall and Northumberland. Inspired by encounters with the transient elements of the tides, the winds and the shifting light, Gemma's practice is deeply rooted in drawing but grows out through exploration in materials and mark-making, through oils, inks, pastels and charcoal.

Although Gemma depicts the natural world around her with elements of representation, she often includes impressionistic qualities or strays into abstraction to describe the views and capture atmospheres. She employs classic compositions; leading lines and eye-drawing horizons, made unique with expressive contemporary flourishes in the marks and details. Light without an obvious light source, the beauty of a grey day, a glint just on the edge of a tree; her landscape is alive, her sea has edgy personality, and her skies are heavy and breathing with texture.

Her colour palettes are deeply earthy, emphasising beautiful greens and exploring in deep purples, and intense blues with splashes of skin-like pink. Here are proper earth colours. Gemma's drawings are full of feeling and connection. An eye of love to the land and sea scapes, a knowledge and understanding of the colours and stories they tell.

Alongside her practice, Gemma co-runs Worcestershire Open Studios Art Week, supporting artists and makers all across the region. She exhibits regularly, was recently part of The Pastel Society's Annual Exhibition, and will be featuring in the Sixteen Gallery Collective Small Works Exhibition next month. To keep up with Gemma's practice or find out where to see her work next, check out her portfolio. You can see more of her work and find links to her website and Instagram.

VIEW GEMMA'S PORTFOLIO