I sat down with a friend for a chat about about the 'Freshly Picked' collection during a recent studio visit and we thought it was such a fun and inspiring conversation that we decided to write it up as an interview to share!
Q: What inspired this new new collection. Why flowers? Why now?
I'd been feeling the need for something new in my work for a while. I love being challenged and excited by what I create, but towards the end of last year that spark was missing. Then, a visit to a greenhouse last November and a single bouquet of flowers I bought to lift my spirits changed everything!
It was an ah-ha moment—I suddenly realised that the uplifting, healing energy of flowers was exactly what I wanted to immerse myself in over the winter. I knew that I had to capture that joy I my paintings share it with my audience.
Q: So, the way flowers made you feel was the starting point?
Absolutely. Just look at the world right now—don't we all need flowers? More art, more colour, more nature, more joy—that's the best thing I could possibly offer through my work.
Q: Indeed! Flower power!
Not only that, but I could see endless possibilities for exploring colour (colour play is my absolute favourite thing) and I felt a whole new sense of discovery with flowers as my focus. I've painted flowers before, but I just instinctively knew that I had something fresh say on a familiar subject.
It’s hard to explain, but having done so much abstract work last year, I could see the potential for abstract and florals to collide in a unique way.
Q: That’s so interesting. I can see the influence of your abstract work in these pieces.
Thank you! I was super conscious about staying loose and free while painting. I even stuck a little studio note on the wall for myself that said: “More blobs, more mess.” I wanted this collection to feel entirely new, and fresh, and MINE.
I purposely didn't really sketch compositions out beforehand—so that the brush and the paint did all the work instead of following tight guidelines or botanically correct drawings.
Q: So, don’t ask what kind of flowers these are?
Hahaha—no! While there are some more identifiable ones here and there, overall, I was pushing towards a more abstract, contemporary expression. I wanted to hit that gorgeous perfectly imperfect sweet spot without overthinking—because overthinking kills the joy in my brushstrokes.
I’m painting the idea of a flower. It's all about feeling, colours, and the natural energy of each arrangement. These bouquets have personality!
Q: Speaking of personality, I noticed each painting has a girl’s name
Yes! That idea came to me towards the end of this series when I saw all the paintings lined up. Each one has such a distinct mood—some are soft and quiet; some are bold and lovely while others are darker. Depending on the 'look', I found myself thinking about what kind of person each painting might be. It was so fun finding names that suited their vibe.
Q: You mentioned discovery and exploration as part of your creative process. Can you tell me more?
Absolutely! For me, painting—no matter the subject—is a never-ending journey of experimentation, fuelled by an insatiable curiosity for colour. I use colour to connect with the most joyful, loving part of myself and let that guide my brushstrokes. I'm trying to show you what I'm thinking and how feeling in the moment.
It's a very intuitive process. I put paint down, smoosh it around, experiment and follow where it takes me. With each brushstroke, I'm learning, exploring, experimenting ….and discovering what I like or don't, what works or doesn't, and what feels right or not at every step.
Q: And with this floral collection, what were your biggest discoveries?
I'm sure there were a million little creative discoveries along the way that got absorbed into my soul but let me think of some of the main ones.
First, I hadn't realised just what dipping my paintbrush into flowers would unleash in me. They turned out to be exactly the subject I needed at this moment. I've been completely consumed by a renewed creative excitement—I really didn't expect to become so obsessed!
I also found a new level of confidence in painting my flowers in my way. The natural, perfectly imperfect qualities of flowers—floppy, bendy, withering, blossoming, fading, breaking, each one unique—gave me the freedom to let my brush and imagination roam. I wasn’t bound by what a flower in a vase "should" look like.
I absolutely LOVED the challenge of making a traditional floral arrangement feel fresh and contemporary. The way my paint blobs and free-formed shapes naturally landed as flowers was such a thrill!
I loved the juxtaposition of tidy and contained stems in a vase against wildly free petals and leaves of the bouquet. The balance there between floral elements and the background became a superbly fun compositional challenge. My thinking brain loved the graphic nature and structure in the stems and vases, while my creative side revelled in the colourful mess of the blooms blossoms tickles my imagination.
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And beyond all of that, just having gardens and flowers on my mind every day has brough me so much joy. The whole process has been incredibly exciting and fulfilling.
Q: I can hear the excitement!
I know! I've barely finished this series, and I'm already dreaming about what's next.
Q: So, can we expect more floral paintings in the future?
Absolutely! This collection feels like just the beginning of a very flowery wave of new work. I want to push myself even further into the garden, experimenting with looser compositions, even more abstract brushstrokes, and unexpected colour combinations.
There is so. much. more. to. come. And if it's anything like Freshly Picked, it's going to be beautiful!
