Gemma Koomen, one of MamaOwl's most loved illustrators, shares the story behind her creations. 

1. Tell us a little bit about your journey to becoming the wonderful illustrator you are today.

I was raised by creative parents and always loved to draw. As a child, I spent hours creating imaginary worlds on paper. Although I didn't particularly excel in art at school, it felt natural to pursue something creative. I was drawn to photography, which led me to the Glasgow School of Art, where I spent countless hours behind a camera, learning about composition, colour, and visual storytelling.

However, I kept coming back to drawing, and what I was doing for fun in my sketchbooks eventually became a more committed  pursuit, especially after I had children. We connected through drawing and reading picture books together, which inspired me to explore illustration more deeply. I began sharing my daily sketches and painting experiments on Instagram, where I discovered a supportive community that enjoyed my work and encouraged me. Soon, I started receiving commissions from individuals, publishers, and brands.

As the demand for my prints and cards grew, I opened an online shop, allowing customers from around the world to purchase my artwork. Today, I feel incredibly fortunate to spend my time creatively—playing with colour, paint, patterns, characters, stories, and design—while also supporting my family.

2. What has inspired the magical worlds you create through your work?

I'm a sensitive person with a neurodivergent mind, and I find immense peace and joy in the natural world. I love diving deep into observing and researching plants, birds, animals, insects, and more. This attention to detail influences my work significantly. For instance, I’m inspired by the way mushrooms sprout from the earth, how raindrops perch on leaves like tiny umbrellas, or the delicate beauty of a little egg nestled in a secret hedgerow nest. Witnessing how earthly caterpillars transform into ethereal butterflies fills me with wonder and inspires me to bring that magic into my illustrations.

Beyond nature, I'm also drawn to whimsical and folkloric elements like fairies and gnomes, as well as everyday moments filled with nostalgia. The relationships between humans and nature, and between people themselves, deeply inspire my work too.

3. As a mum, do your own experiences and interactions play a role in shaping the narratives or characters within your artwork? If so, could you share an example?

Absolutely! I feel it's a privilege to experience the wonder of life through my children's eyes—it’s almost like reliving a second childhood. Being so intimately tied to their emotional world, watching them grow, and seeing the challenges and opportunities they encounter naturally influence my work.

For instance, my book Flock/The Tree Keepers reflects some of my personal experiences. Both my daughters and I struggled to make friends at school and were often labelled as shy, quiet, or reserved. However, these traits can also be strengths, allowing for deeper connections with nature, creativity, and others. In the book, the main character is similarly quiet, and it is precisely this quality that helps her bond with a wild bird. This connection boosts her confidence and leads her to find like-minded friends within her community. I believe everyone deserves a place where they belong, and our differences can be celebrated as strengths.

4. What aspects of your creative process do you find most challenging and most fulfilling?

I genuinely enjoy my creative process, but my tendency to hyper-focus with intense enthusiasm can sometimes lead to burnout. It's a constant learning process to pace myself and manage my energy. I’m also very sensitive to colour and can spend far too much time trying to achieve the best reproduction of my work, especially since I’m committed to using the most environmentally friendly printing processes available. This can mean hours troubleshooting, reviewing proofs, and looking at screens.

Running a creative business also involves wearing many hats, which often takes me away from the drawing and painting I love most. However, despite these challenges, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

5. Do you have a personal favourite design?

I have a big soft spot for my “snail cottage” design. I love drawing fairies and tiny homes. I've been doing it since I was a child and it seems I never really stopped! 

6. What inspired you to write your book, Flock?

When my children were little, we witnessed a large starling murmuration that captivated me. I was determined to capture some of that awe and inspiration. Around the same time, I was given a classic board book featuring gnomes riding on geese, which sparked the idea of a tiny girl riding on the back of a starling. I took a Skillshare class on zine-making and began sketching a simple narrative.

Serendipitously, a publisher, Frances Lincoln, reached out to me after seeing one of my paintings of a girl on a starling, asking if I had a story for it. That was the push I needed to develop the concept into a full book. It felt like everything fell into place, though I realize now I had been planting the seeds for a while!

Flock/The Tree Keepers continues to bring joy to children and families, and it’s truly an honour to create something that resonates with people and brings them comfort. My next picture book will be quite different, but that’s what I love about illustration—there are endless possibilities for creative expression.

You can follow Gemma's work on her instagram here, and shop her creations in our shop, here.