There are often a series of moments over time that slowly build up to inspiring my art collections. It can happen over a single holiday, over months or even years, and Birds & Blooms has probably been at least 9 years in the making, if not more!
The seeds of inspiration
Since I was a teenager, I’ve enjoyed photographing flowers and studying their colours and textures. Real-life floral colour palettes are often the foundation for many of my pieces, and from the very beginnings of South Island Art, I knew that one day I wanted to have a floral collection.
Connecting with nature through art
So, why now for Birds & Blooms? Perhaps it's a combination of the scariness of the impact of our changing climate, the relentless pace of modern life, and the joy of experiencing some truly spectacular gardens. I’ve found myself wanting to connect more closely with nature, both spending time outdoors and through my creative expression.
Wildlife and floral encounters
I’ve found that there is nothing quite like witnessing wildlife up close. One of the initial sparks for Birds & Blooms was a visit to a nature reserve in Preston with my in-laws, where we experienced the most magical encounter with birds, voles and a squirrel (and the direct inspiration for The Sound of Birdsong).
Moving home last summer, which meant finally having a small garden of our own, has also proven to be an invaluable source of inspiration. Observing the adorable interactions of our garden birds as they visit our feeder has been priceless. Our regular guests include Great Tits, Blue Tits, Robins, Wrens, and a couple of Goldfinches, not forgetting the ever-patient pigeons pacing up and down on the ground, waiting for the scraps to fall! One of my highlights so far has been watching a remarkably determined parakeet figure out ingenious ways to access the feeder despite the protective cage designed for smaller birds. I've been pretty much blown away by how much activity there can be, even in a tiny urban space!
The floral inspiration for this collection has been gathered from many gardens across the globe, each experience bringing its unique seasonal beauty. Spring in Boston’s Public Garden (fine-art print here) and Chicago’s Millennium Park brought row upon row of gorgeous tulips. A late summer / early autumn visit brought every colour and form of dahlias in Madrid’s gem of a botanical garden. Closer to home, the stunning rose gardens at Kew Gardens and The Regent’s Park, along with easy access to the serene beauty of The Rookery in South London, have also played a significant role.
Capturing ephemeral beauty - fleeting moments in time
The challenge and the joy of capturing fleeting moments have been central to this collection. I've lost count of the times I've tried to photograph the Great Tits, Blue Tits and Wrens who seem to appear and vanish in the blink of an eye. One second they're there in front of you, the next, only the tell-tale movement of randomly falling leaves or waving branches in a different part of the garden gives them away! Other fleeting moments are the brief beauty of flowers that bloom for a day or two, or watching them burst into life and then retreat as the season changes, and butterflies emerging in the spring sunshine and dancing around the gardens. This collection has involved a lot of study and observation!
A seasonal journey from renewal to rest
My aim with Birds & Blooms was to create a set of illustrations encapsulating the magic of the different seasons. From the vibrant renewal of spring to winter, which can be bleak yet full of colour, each illustration pairs specific florals and wildlife that are characteristic of the season.
A musical connection
A subtle musical theme weaves its way through the names of each piece of art in the collection. It was inspired by the delightful sound of birdsong, especially those magical moments when multiple species sing in unison.
The Birds & Blooms collection is available to purchase as individual greetings cards or as a set of four, featuring one design for each season. They are printed on a pearlescent card, which adds another dimension to the art - a gentle shimmer as the paper catches the light, like sunlight in our gardens. The cards are also recyclable and sent without any plastic packaging. If you'd like a fine-art print of any of the pieces, please get in touch.