Sustainable Art Prints: Combining Art & Environmental Responsibility

I am sure it will be no surprise to you that I love the ocean, I have done since I was very little.  It is the focus of all my work, the thing that brings me solace every day and what I have a deep passion for sharing with you.

As such, from the very early days in my business I knew I wanted to use my work to try to help protect the oceans for future generations.  We have really abused our waterways over recent decades, and it is time for us all to do our bit to help repair the damage we have caused.  A lot of people feel daunted by this, thinking that their contribution will be insignificant and not worth doing.  But if we all do our bit, that equates to a big change.  It won’t happen overnight, but we have to start now, to change our daily habits of consumption and how we dispose of unwanted items.

The way in which I do that with my art is constantly evolving as I find new ways of working, new eco-friendly products, think of new things to upcycle and re-purpose.  Now it runs through most elements of my business, from initial creation of a painting through to packaging and delivery.  With the final act being a donation to various ocean and environmental conservation charities with every sale I make.  

Re-purposing is now one of the main foundations of my original paintings.  Always trying to repurpose something, an element into the pieces, such as the fibreglass offcuts from surfboard manufacturing.   I use eco-acrylic paints which are much less harmful to our water systems than normal acrylic paints.  I use recycled packaging in nearly every part of my business, from box filler to the boxes themselves.  I am also working hard to offset my carbon emissions as a business; with my studio being at home so no travel in the car, my studio is powered by green renewable energy, even delivery to you I try to use the least impactful method or company to transport.

But the one area that I am really proud of, which was the hardest to try to find an eco-friendly solution for, is my limited-edition art prints.  By working with a local Cornish artisan printers we have managed to source a sustainable bamboo paper in which to print to my artwork onto.

The manufacture of bamboo versus traditional cotton is far less impactful to the environment, with bamboo growing faster and requiring a lot less water to grow.  It also requires a lot less chemicals to treat once harvested, therefore making it a great solution for fine art prints.  It has a beautiful hand feel too, natural but premium.  That combined with the clarity and detail that is reflected in each print, I was so thrilled with the outcome.

If you’re interested in looking at my collections, take a closer look at my bamboo prints.

By choosing to adorn your wall with a more sustainably focused piece of art you are helping to make a change.  It may seem like a small act but each donation I can make to my chosen charities; Surfers Against Sewage, Ecologi and more to come for 2024, you are helping them continue their import work of correcting damage and educating people to change their daily habits.  I am really pleased I get to be a part of that, to try to protect what I love so dearly, the beautiful Cornish coastline and our mesmerising, soothing oceans.

Gemma

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