Art by Gem, Gemma doodle on Tiktok, Pencil realism and oil painter, author and illustrator of The Crystal Kids by Gem Stone

One thing I've learnt over the years is that creativity isn't static. It moves, shifts and evolves, and I've finally stopped feeling guilty about following where it's taking me.

Paddington at deans park York illustration by Gem — The sketch I did at Dean’s Park in York

One change I've made recently is bringing my Gems in the Post letters to an end. It wasn't an easy decision because I genuinely loved creating them. Sending out those four letters was such a special experience, and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who subscribed and supported the project.

Although it became too time-consuming to continue alongside everything else I'm creating, I'm so glad I did it. I learnt so much—not just about writing and designing the letters, but about connecting with people in a more personal way. Thank you to everyone who came along for that little journey with me. It meant more than you know.

As one creative door closes, another seems to open.

Lately I've been sharing something that's been part of my life for years: my location sketches. Whenever I'm out and about, I've always loved sitting and sketching the places around me. It's something I've done purely for myself and, if I'm honest, I never really imagined anyone else would be interested in seeing them.

How wrong I was!

The response has completely blown me away. In just four weeks my Instagram has grown from 1,000 followers to over 3,000, all because people seem to genuinely enjoy seeing these little moments captured on paper. It's been such an incredible surprise and has reminded me that sometimes the things we take for granted are exactly what others find inspiring.

Even more amazing has been seeing so many of you buying the little art prints of my location illustrations. Every single order has made me smile, and I'm so incredibly grateful that my sketches have found homes with so many lovely people. Thank you for supporting my work in such a meaningful way—it genuinely allows me to keep creating.

So you'll definitely be seeing a lot more location sketches from me!

Alongside that, I'm also completely falling in love with painting in oils. I'm trying to be less concerned about getting everything "right" and instead allowing myself to be expressive, experimental and, most importantly, to have fun. It's such a freeing way to create, and I'm excited to see where it leads.

You may have also noticed that my TikTok Doodle Lives have become a little less frequent. That's been a conscious decision too. Reducing those has given me the space to explore these other creative projects without feeling like I have to do everything all at once.

I've realised that I naturally move through different creative seasons. Sometimes it's doodling. Sometimes it's writing letters. Sometimes it's sketching on location or painting with oils.

They might look different on the surface, but they all come from the same place: a love of creativity, curiosity and making things that bring a little joy.

I'm learning to trust those seasons rather than fight them. Following what excites me has led to opportunities and connections I never expected, and that's a wonderful reminder that creativity doesn't have to stay in one lane.

So thank you for being here, whether you've followed my doodles, subscribed to my letters, bought one of my little art prints, or simply enjoy watching whatever creative adventure comes next. Your encouragement, kind words and support mean the world to me.

I'm so excited for this next chapter, and I can't wait to share more of it with you.