Gemma Donnellan has been a professional artist for over 25 years, formally trained in Visual Arts at RMIT majoring in printmaking and painting. 

Gemma’s artworks are in numerous private and public collections, including designer Adele Palmer, St Vincent’s Hospital & the Peter McCallum Hospital Collection. 

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Gemma is a member of Swan Street Studios in excess of 12 years, which has seen her practice expand & develop. 

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She has had 6 solo exhibitions, taken part in many fundraising activities, been a feature artist and exhibited in numerous group shows. 

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In 2023 Gemma founded Art for Today, a dynamic approach to Art and connecting people to original artworks and artists, through creative experiences and events.

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Through her company Art for Today Gemma has curated four exhibitions, with over 20 artists in each exhibition.

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Gemma has designed art sessions and programs inspired to open up creativity for Corporate Groups, Retirement Homes, Gift shops, Primary Schools and women’s art circles.

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Gemma runs a women’s connection group called Reciprocity which sees women come together for an evening of connection, higher learning with guest speakers, surrounded by art exhibitions.

In 2022 Gemma has exhibited three group shows at Gallery 550 in Richmond.

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Throughout the pandemic Gemma also took part in St Vincent’s hospital Thankyou Posters: Expressions of heARTfelt ‘Hallways of Love’ project to lift the spirits of St Vincent’s Staff.  The A1 posters included encouraging messages of gratitude adding colour and light throughout the staff corridors.

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As a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gemma set up ‘Art-19’ a fundraising initiative, throughout August September and October of 2020. Gemma auctioned 4 artworks with all proceeds going to Berry Street to support children, young people and families in severe poverty and crisis.

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Gemma designed and hand painted a full room mural in her Balwyn North home.

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Leonard Joel Auction house exhibited and sold Gemma's artworks in February 2021.  St Vincent’s Hospital has acquired 'A New Beginning' soon to be on public display in the entrance foyer of ‘Berengarra’ their new state of the art aged care facility in Kew designed by Lyons Architects. St Vincent’s Hospital are now using ‘A New Beginning’s image for their Bereavement cards. 

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Gemma exhibited at Monsalvat as part of a fundraising exhibition for The Pat Cronin Foundation. 

In 2018 Gemma art directed 8 outdoor printed canvas murals with school children for St Clement’s of Rome Primary School.

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2016 saw Gemma make her first entry into the infamous Archibald Portraiture Prize, although she did not make the final selection, her portrait 'Amelina' of Master Perfumer Emma J. Leah was shown on National television. 

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Gemma was approached by US clothing company VIDA to launch her first fashion collection using her perfume bottle paintings. 

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For the month of June in 2018 Gemma held her 6th solo exhibition at ‘Riveresque’ in Warrandyte. Gemma again exhibited in the Canterbury Artshow.

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2017 Gemma was honoured to be the Feature Artist at the 'Roberts McCubbin Artshow', and was also invited to take part in the Canterbury Artshow.

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Gemma showcased part of her perfume series at the 'Sagra Salon Show' June - Aug 2015, Sagra Gallery Malvern. Gemma's perfume paintings were also showcased in the Toorak Village Art Walk in 2015.

Gemma's successful 2014 solo exhibition ‘Perfume' saw paintings delivered to Melbourne collectors including fashion icon Adele Palmer. 

February 2015 saw the collaboration between Gemma Donnellan & Christine Cropley in 'Aphrodisiac Abstraction', held in an Art Deco Pop Up Gallery in North Melbourne. 

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Gemma exhibited her printmaking series ‘Breathe’ at Art Holes Gallery in 2005. Also a printmaking series, ‘Chandeliers’ was Gemma’s second solo exhibition at Carlow House. In addition to her fine art she has designed a line of children’s giftware for interior design boutique Moss Melbourne.

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Gemma held her first solo exhibition of 18 works called ‘First’ in 2003 at the Level 11 Gallery, Flinders Lane. ‘My Magnolias’ from this exhibition is part of the Peter MacCallum Hospital Collection.

Her painting ‘Taller Poppies’ was pre-selected for the prestigious Cromwell’s Art Prize in Sydney, then sold at auction. 

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Before following her artist vocation, Gemma had a corporate background working Telstra, KPMG, ANZ and Kraft Foods. Based in London for 2 years she travelled Europe & Asia. Gemma also has a long history with Architecture beginning her working life with Spowers Architects and many years later with ARM Architects, as promotions media liaison and Executive Assistant to Ian McDougall.  

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Gemma lives in Melbourne with her husband, Architect Chris Hose Director of Williams Ross Architects, and their seventeen year old daughter Estelle.