The Floral Eras Exhibition
A look back at the Floral Eras Exhibition, a vibrant celebration of floral art held at the historic Regency Town House in Brighton. From large-scale floral installations to mixed-media art, this event brought together florists, artists, photographers, and growers from across Sussex and London to showcase the true versatility of flowers.
Fresh Paint - a floral installation
Curated by Brighton based florists Kate Langsdale and Betty Blooming, the exhibition was spread over two floors of the beautiful Georgian townhouse. The brief was to create an installation that reflected the history of the building. My design was inspired by the building’s historic interior. The walls as they stand now reveal layers of paint and plaster that begin to tell a tale of the building’s unique history.
As an interiors fanatic, I loved researching and moodboarding Georgian paint colours and techniques.
Inspired by these colours, my final piece, ‘Fresh Paint’, reimagines a decorative surface through living material. Layers of historic (often toxic!) paint and elaborate wallpaper are replaced with fresh flowers, flowing from industrial vessels and extending across the space.
Scene Floral Design at the Floral Eras Exhibition - Regency Townhouse, Brighton
My vision involved a fictional and rather clumsy decorator, a vintage ladder (sadly I couldn’t procure one from the Regency era!), and some beautiful pastel coloured flowers. The aim was to have flowers cascading from an upturned paint pale, representing paint flowing down the side of the ladder and pooling onto the floor.
I wanted this piece to be floral foam-free so I used chicken wire and moss to secure spray Chrysanthemum (‘Pastela Rose’ and ‘Polaris’) and foliage. To create the illusion of the flowing liquid, the flowers began to increase in size the further down the ladder they were placed, finally ending in the most gorgeous, flouncy Hydrangea flowers in a pale pink (‘Bridal Pink’). I also placed ‘Camelo Cream’ Foxgloves to the base of the design, I just love the curves they create which enhanced the flow of materials. The design included Northanger Abbey and St Peters Park! Garden Roses which added the most gorgeous texture and pops of colour.
Another vintage paint pale completed the design. A lucky find at Cliffe Antiques Centre in Lewes, the pot is covered in splatters of blue paint which was perfect for the arrangement of blue flowers I had planned! ‘Lolly Pop Blue’ Hydrangeas were arranged with Nigella Damascena ‘Sky Blue’ and delicate powder blue Delphiniums (‘Dewi Boy’). Beneath the pot a wide paint brush can be seen with Hydrangea petals seeming to drip onto the rungs of the ladder below.
I absolutely loved being part of this exhibition and look forward to many more floral installations!
If you’d like to get in touch to discuss flower arrangements or a floral installation for your event or brand activation feel free to email me at hello@scenefloraldesign.com
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