Cherishing Moments of Felixstowe and Beyond Through a Single, Continuous Line



Meet Jemma White, an artist and local gem who has a fascinating creative vision to share with you.

I can recall the exact moment I was inspired to become an illustrator; I was in the middle of my Art Foundation at Suffolk New College in 2013 where I had chosen to take up an illustration specialism. My illustration lecturer turned to me and said, ‘You’re the best illustrator in this room, yet you’re the only one not taking it up in university’. I originally undertook the Art Foundation course as a break from Sixth Form to decide where and what on earth I was going to study and do with my life... I loved art. I loved being expressive, especially with materials such as ink, paint and charcoal due to the fact that they completely transform the everyday image into free, abstract, new perspectives, but I always thought I couldn’t make a stable career out of it and originally planned to take my ‘messy play’ into Primary Education. 

Looking around the illustration workshop, I admired the detail, dedication and accuracy of everyone’s illustrations and when I looked at mine, I saw inaccuracy and mess! I couldn’t see how my love for expressive mark making could collaborate with what I originally saw illustration to be. But my lecturer admired my quick and messy illustrations. He pointing me towards illustrators such as Veronica Lawlor and Lucinda Rogers; illustrators who capture life, people, places as they happen and embrace the movement and spontaneity in the moment. The idea that illustration can be a record, a documentation and had to be fast-paced in order to capture information encouraged me to work quickly, to not keep my eye off a subject I was drawing and to never take my pencil off the page. 

From that workshop onwards, I knew I wanted to illustrate. I saw a power in how illustration can communicate so much more as opposed to seeing a standard photograph and how I have the power to present beauty through simplicity and the freedom of a continuous line; to look upon normality with admiration by stripping down it’s identity to a fragile structure.

I went on to study Graphic Design with Illustration specialism at the University of Suffolk and my signature reportage illustrations became my passion throughout my visual development. Reportage illustrations of people, turned into travel locations and iconic buildings, all of which still inspire me today. I see buildings all around Suffolk, Felixstowe and photos from previous city breaks and admire the potential line I could follow and build to capture such structures and detail; qualities both of which I was originally afraid of, but with time and lots of practice over 4 years or so, has transformed A Line of Suffolk into what it is now! 

A Line of Suffolk is all about cherishing moments of Suffolk and beyond through the journey of my continuous line. I traditionally complete my illustrations by hand with an HB charcoal pencil and watercolour, and then collaborate the two mediums by scanning the layers in and editing on Photoshop. I also complete some on my iPad on an app called Procreate when suitable. The range of illustrations I have completed are mostly around Suffolk, of the people who live here, pets, houses, wedding photos and even cars, all of which go through the same delicate process and journey to transform the everyday into something to cherish. I take commissions on a weekly basis and nearly all requests tell a story, a memory, a celebration or a special memory in one’s life. It’s a privilege being trusted and to illustrate such special stories and for such special people. 

I’ve lived in Felixstowe all my life and especially in recent times, I’ve felt so privileged to live in such a lovely little town so close to the sea. There is such a community spirit in the town and I love how I can walk along the prom and most likely see at least one person I know. My favourite illustration so far has to be of the Felixstowe Cliff Top, a place where my family are fortunate enough to have a beach hut and regularly retreat to enjoy a cup of tea and a toasted scone from the Kiosk nearby. We have had so many lovely family gatherings, friends catch-ups and celebrations overlooking the Old Felixstowe beach. Like the illustrations I complete for others, this illustration celebrates a special place in our hearts. 
 
Another favourite would have to be my illustration of Rome’s Trevi Fountain. It was the first holiday my boyfriend, Shaun, and I had together and we were captivated by the city’s beauty and charm. We visited the fountain a couple of times, gelatos in hand, and took many photos of the crystal clear water and mesmerising artefact. Again, the illustration holds a special memory for us and I proudly have it framed on the wall facing my desk where I complete all my illustrations. 

If I were to give advice to my younger self, I would tell her to value what she loves and pursue only what makes her happy, to disregard the pressures of success being money related or success being down to the amount of followers you have on your Instagram page, because as I have got older, I have learnt that if you do what you love, you don’t feel like you are working at all. Alongside my creative practice, I have found a perfect balance teaching Graphic Design and Illustration at One Sixth Form College to 16-18 year olds, who also share a buzz for creativity and visual communication through illustrative means. I’d like to think I inspire them to pursue their individual talent as much as they inspire me every week! My creative education has taught me to be resilient, independent and immersed in imagination; it is my goal in life to give just as much belief and support to other creative students as I was so lucky to have had. 

A Line of Suffolk has taught me to recognise and be grateful for the small things around us, the things that mean the most and are more than often overlooked: family, friends, our pets, our hometown (Felixstowe in my case) and our homes themselves. It is an honour celebrating such things every week for customers all around Suffolk and it makes me so happy knowing I am sharing this celebration by presenting an illustration at the end to a special person for them to cherish. I’d like to thank those who have supported me in my small business to this day; you enable me to pursue the best kind of therapy in my daily week. I only wish for my illustrative work to be shared with more locals and offer a little piece of happiness to them also. 

I have a few prints and postcards available (including the Felixstowe Cliff Top and my Trevi Fountain illustration) on my Etsy page starting from only £3 and including postage to a UK address (!) I also regularly post my illustration activity and business updates on my Facebook and Instagram page for those who would like to follow me. Please go and check it out. It means the world to me. And finally, if you would like to request a personal commission or to collaboratively sell my Suffolk prints for your local business, please email me. It will make me so happy to hear from you. 

Wishing you all well. Take care, Jemma x