Oh oh oh oh everybody! Red alert! Gemma Milly, an artist and illustrator in southeast England, has taken my heart captive today. Her work is such a delight and I’m certain it will tickle you too. I’m so happy that I found her today via lovely Mary Beth on Pinterest. I adore her painterly style and colorways and well her drawing of William and Katherine kissing on the balcony and Buckingham Palace is just so charming (you can buy it here). I hope they somehow see it — I’m sure they’d love it to pieces that cute Will and Katherine.

Gemma draws her images first by hand using pen or pencil, then adds ink and watercolor, and finally she digitally enhances them to give them that final “just so” touch. I love how she uses her color outside of the lines at times. This is gorgeous. Her inspiration comes from, “The ethereal, the sensual, the female form, the exquisite and the beautiful. Her aim is to create strikingly beautiful images that please the eye and delight the senses.” I’d say she accomplishes her goal!

But she hasn’t always been an illustrator… Gemma once worked in advertising and design for six years at a traditional desk job, but like so many creative types who dream of “what if”, the atmosphere wasn’t for her and she started to wonder about her future… So she jumped ship, returned to university where she earned her Master’s in Illustration and Animation and now she is a happy freelancer.

Gemma produces prints, greetings cards, portraits and fashion illustration for her big cartel shop and for her clients and well… we’re all happier for it – but most importantly, Gemma found her calling and we all love those kinds of stories, don’t we?

Isn’t Gemma divine?

(images: gemma milly)

34 Responses to “Gemma Milly Illustration”

1 Irma Navarro-Hankins commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 5:49 pm

Love these! Are they available for purchase?
2 arianna commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 5:56 pm

OMG I love Gemma Milly and am ao happy you have featured her! I have known Gemma for awhile now (via the web) and she was my very first feature for my series on my blog http://ariannainteriors.blogspot.com/2010/11/one-to-watch-gemma-milly.html
She is the sweetest and nicest girl and such raw talent which I love. I am so excited that we will be working together soon……..Don’t the Brits have so much Talent ;)
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3 Maureen commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 6:27 pm

Those are so romantically, whimsically beautiful!!!!!
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4 Christine commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Beautiful! I love the mixed media look of these and that yellow dress print is amazing!
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5 Julie Khuu commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 7:47 pm

Love that shot of the couple kissing! Such a beautiful pose captured through watercolor…simply magical…love it!

xo-Julie
Peace. Love. LOL!
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6 Alexa commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 7:47 pm

Oh beautiful illustrations! That one of William and Catherine is stunning! :)
xo
Alexa

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7 Simone Leblanc commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 7:53 pm

cute! Love these. Thanks for sharing!
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8 ines commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 8:06 pm

Wonderful drawings! The one with the royals is great. Thanks for sharing with us. Have a fab evening.

Greetings, ines
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9 Shari commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 8:27 pm

Really gorgeous! Very sweet, too. Thanks for sharing them! I saw the one with the yellow skirt on Pinterest, also. Such a great place to find things, right?
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10 Brooke H commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 9:08 pm

Wow, love her work. Thank you for sharing. Its always so great to see illustrators featured here.

I started a Kate fashion illustration to add to my etsy shop, this may be the motivation to finish it already! ;) Did however sketch a look I predicted her to wear for the Nate Berkus Show, before the wedding:
http://fabulousdoodles.blogspot.com/2011/05/television-debut.html
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11 Barbara commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 10:05 pm

Everthing looks lovely. Her style is really intriguing :)
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12 Jennifer commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 11:15 pm

These are so pretty, love the one with the yellow skirt.
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13 Sarah commented:
June 13th, 2011 at 11:59 pm

LOVE the Will and Kate drawing – excellent! :o
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14 Maria commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 4:18 am

These are beautiful! She definitely has a talent. Lovely!
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15 Charlotte commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 4:47 am

These are SO charming! I want to eat them with a spoon.
16 Forgotten Fancies commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 5:15 am

They are so dreamy! Thanks for introducing us to Gemma. It’s always nice to hear people who becomes successful as a freelancer.
17 Anastasia commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 5:27 am

really lovely! i need to make it a habit to draw more often…love Fashion illustration!
18 Allison M commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 5:58 am

Whimsical and fun, reminds me a little vintage yet sooo fresh. Love them. Thanks for sharing
19 Amelia commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 6:12 am

I totally admire artists because I’m a frustrated painter myself. I’m creative but when it comes to applying my thoughts to the brush and the paper , I completely blocked out.

Gemma Milly’s pieces are amazing and can be used as an inspiration for others. How I wish I can have her great talent.
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20 Star Hughes commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 7:19 am

LOVE these pictures! These are so cute – I especially love the yellow skirt. So much fun!

Star Hughes´s last [type] ..chocolate dipped marshmallows
21 Zsa Zsa commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 8:08 am

Love, love watercolor illustrations! Gemma must be a sweet and romantic person based on these drawings. :) Thanks for introducing her to us , Holly!
22 david commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 8:42 am

Very nice drawings!
23 Lili Emilia commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 9:43 am

Wau, I love her style. She’s talented!
24 Sarah commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 10:04 am

These are beautiful where can I purchase her work?
Sarah´s last [type] ..Sabrina Lins Stunning Penthouse
25 Charley commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 12:04 pm

Great to see Gemma’s beautiful illustrations featured on here. She’s very talented (and a lovely gal too!)
26 Mrs Bok commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 1:58 pm

Beautiful work, thank you for showcasing her
27 Lace and Tulle commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 2:50 pm

Love the illustrations!
28 Amy - pride of place commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 3:44 pm

These are fantastic – I’m heading over to her on-line store right now. :)
29 elsoplomundano commented:
June 14th, 2011 at 11:05 pm

Love that!! But I have to say that her web have a little problem: “Bandwidth Limit Exceeded” http://www.gemmamilly.com/ too much visitors! it’s not that bad :)
30 Melissa Jaine commented:
June 15th, 2011 at 3:47 am

Oh so gorgeous! I love her use of colour along with grey pencil. My favourite thing. :)
mj.
x
31 Gemma Milly commented:
June 15th, 2011 at 11:23 pm

Thanks for such wonderful comments everyone! *blushes*
My website has now recovered and is up and running again, as is my shop – http://gemmmillyillustration.bigcartel.com – (where I shall be adding lots more of my illustrations for purchase soon!).
32 Gemma Milly commented:
June 15th, 2011 at 11:25 pm

p.s. oops, it would help if I could spell! http://gemmamillyillustration.bigcartel.com
33 Mel Stringer commented:
June 17th, 2011 at 10:13 am

Gorgeous illos!
34 Mary-Ellen commented:
November 13th, 2011 at 10:41 pm

I adore Gemma’s work. She is a highly talented woman who is a very humble individual. I also featured her on my blog and learn’t how she got started: http://houseofpaulinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/10/giving-up-day-job-becoming-illustrator.html

Great blog feature x

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