CELEBRATION of BRITISH FLOWERS
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Project name: A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH FLOWERS
Timeframe: JAN 2019-OCT 2019 (& ongoing whenever I get the chance!)
About this project: While I was browsing on Instagram, I started noticing that there were lots of amazing women around the country growing & creating wonderful things with British Flowers. I was so surprised at the variety of flowers available & didn't realise what a difference locally grown flower made. Most of them had left other careers to pursue their dream, which is something I resonate with so strongly.
I asked a local grower whether I could come & photograph her tulips & ended up coming home with a bucket with overblown tulips to paint. I sketched & took photos quickly as I expected them to be dead the next day, like all the florists flower I bought usually did. To my surprise, those amazing tulips stood for 3 weeks, still firm with outstretched petals. thats the difference between locally grown flowers & imported chilled ones!
So I decided that everyone needs to know about our local growers & started collaborating with the them. I would paint their floral creations & spread the word. As usual with me, the project took on a life of it's own & eventually the series of 24 Flower bouquet painting & the stories of our growers were exhibited at RHS Wisley, RHS Hyde Hall & Strawberry Hill house.
Even now, any chance I get I collaborate with these incredible women who have created small businesses growing the flowers they love. Whatever the British weather throws at them, or the vagaries of soil & disease, out they would go , planting, digging, weeding & then creating the most stunning arrangements & bouquets for weddings & occasions, run workshops & generally make the world a more beautifully floral place!
I encourage you all to search out your local flower growers & get your fresh flowers from them. You'll instantly know the difference. The other way to help them is to insist on locally 'grown not flown' from your local florist...you know it makes sense on so many levels.
The paintings are now available to purchase as originals, limited edition prints & on a selection of luxury accessories. You can find them in the Bouquets & still life collection.