“We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it”
George Eliot
Wildflowers are my passion. I have loved them my entire life. Some of my earliest memories are walking with my nana down ancient Irish pathways edged with tumbling kaleidoscopic hedgerows. The innocence and joy of these flowers simply makes my heart sing. They are a gentle reminder of the power of beauty and love.
In 2016 I was delighted to be featured in BBCs Countryfiles special meadow episode. The programme was dedicated to exploring meadows in our current times and illuminating how fundamental they are for our survival.
I am also deeply honoured to work closely with the following charities, institutions and businesses with a joint mission to raise awareness of their importance for both our planet and our souls.
Firstly, I have a heart warming collaboration with the wonderful company Seedball and it has been a joy to create a bespoke seed mix with them. Seedball is a non-profit company on a massive mission to help increase the abundance of British wildflowers and wildlife that depend upon them. Seedballs mission is to inspire a wildlife gardening revolution with conservation at the heart.
I am also in collaboration with The Lost Gardens of Heligan inspired by their wonderful wildflower meadows. Heligan is one of the most mysterious estates in England. Abandoned to the brambles of time since the outbreak of WW1, this sleeping beauty was re-awakened in 1990 to become Europe’s largest garden restoration project. Today Heligan’s 200 acres are a paradise for the explorer, wildlife, plant lover and garden romantic.
The Eden Project explores how together we can work towards a better future. As part of this initiative they are currently in the process of launching The National Wildflower Centre and I am working closely alongside them in our joint mission to raise much needed funds towards this important resource. This centre is about making a real difference to restore the wild habitats, species, landscapes and biodiversity through a programme of cultural ecology on a regional, national and international scale. I have created a painting over the last two years inspired by their signature wildflower mix. This has been auctioned and 100% of profits donated to the centre. This piece has been named The Garden Of Eden.
Finally, I also work in collaboration with the charity Plantlife. Their ethos is focused on the protection of endangered wildflowers and diminishing flora and fauna in the United Kingdom. I auctioned a painting at a charity ball at Kensington Palace. I was deeply honoured to have been chosen to create a piece for the event. This piece was called Flower Power.
I have a deep commitment to saving our threatened meadowlands. I am both humbled and blessed to dedicate my life to painting the happiness and healing these spaces create.