#MeetTheResident – Gemma O’Neill
Gemma O’Neill is an Illustrator and Author based in Belfast and Blick Resident of Hill Street Studios.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business?
My name is Gemma OâNeill and Iâm an Illustrator/Author. I graduated from Falmouth University back in 2011 with a BA (Hons) Degree in Illustration and my first authored and illustrated childrenâs picture book deal after visiting the Bologna Childrenâs Book Fair during my final year of study.
I gave up my day job around a year and half ago to work completely freelance. It was a great decision. It gave me the opportunity to broaden my portfolio and take on a wider range of projects alongside working in childrenâs publishing. I also have my own print business now too.
 Any projects youâre currently working on?
Iâm currently developing a childrenâs alphabet board book, counting board book, two new picture books and a potential series of information childrenâs books. Iâm also working on an ongoing project, Houses of Hillsborough for an exhibition with In KlĂśver sometime after the summer.
Another ongoing project is my print business, which started online with prints and greetings cards. Iâm hoping to build on the range of products soon, as well as grow my number of stockists.
What was the biggest hurdle for you starting out and how did you overcome it?
My biggest hurdle starting out was becoming homeless in between working on my first and second picture book. What should have been a wonderful, exciting time, was probably one of the most stressful experiences Iâve ever had and it took a long time to recover from. However, I remained creative throughout the time, which was comforting. Making it through something like that can really cement your dreams further and make you even more determined to succeed. It really drives my work and overall approach to life now.
How do you stay creative/inspired?
I find it useful to have several projects on the go at one time. It takes the pressure of each individual project and alternating between projects keeps the work fresh too. I also find it great to separate work from the hobby, by working on personal projects. Itâs still important to draw, colour and write just for the joy of it. Itâs the love for these individual things that made me choose my particular career path to begin with! I find location drawing very useful too. Itâs great to get away from the desk and I work quite freely when Iâm outside or under pressure with people around me. This freeness usually feeds through to whatever Iâm working on in the studio.
Itâs great to be creative in other ways too. Iâve always loved photography, perhaps because of the link to storytelling and composition or perhaps because itâs another visual language.
Itâs good to just detach from creativity too. One of my greatest sources of inspiration is nature and the great outdoors. I love hiking and always go back to my desk feeling very refreshed afterwards. Travelling has the same effect too. Itâs great to see different places and experience different cultures.
Who is your creative hero?
I have a few! But my top three are Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake and JK Rowling. Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake brought about my love for books from a young age. Roald Dahl is the ultimate childrenâs storyteller to me, an absolute original, who will never be replaced. I still read all of his books over and over again today. I think Quentin Blake is the ultimate illustrator too. I doubt thereâs anything he canât illustrate and the joy for what he does just shines through in his illustrations. Theyâre so freeing to look at. I think JK Rowling is a bit of a genius too. The Harry Potter series is timeless. All ages can relate to the stories. Sheâs also just a very strong, inspirational lady!
 What piece of software/ tool/ equipment would you struggle to run your business without?
There are so many things I couldnât run my business without. It all begins with getting an idea down on a page, either in illustration format or written format. So a pencil, a pen and a sketchbook are absolutely essential. Materials such as gouache, watercolours, ink, crayons and colouring pencils are necessary for generating artwork too. Then beyond the traditional side of working as an illustrator⌠a scanner, computer, Photoshop and InDesign are essential for bringing illustrations up to print or website standard.
Whatâs your top tip/piece of advice for anyone wanting to start their own creative business?
Surround yourself with positive people, people who believe in you and people who inspire you⌠the right people, basically. Time is incredibly valuable and the wrong people are a waste of your time. The right environment can definitely influence the people you have around you too. I moved to just outside Belfast about a year and a half ago. There are greater opportunities here and Iâve been lucky to meet lots of like-minded people too, which always has a positive impact on creativity. The move has really normalised my career choice as well and being around so many inspiring creative people makes anything feel possible.
You can learn more about our Hill Street Residents https://blickstudios.org/hill-street-residents/