Rachel Grimes, floral artist

Grimes describes herself as a ‘floral artist, gardener, family woman and classically trained cellist’. She runs The Mirror & The Veil, a workshop-studio in Uckfield, where she creates spectacular mixed media floral displays for events throughout the UK and Europe, including an installation for ROSA Botanical Art Fair in May.

How does floral art differ from floristry?

The skill and craft of being a florist has almost disappeared. Once there were florist shops on every high street, now many people no longer get the opportunity to even cast their eye over a hand-tied bouquet. I try to make people look; to appreciate the colour, form and movement of flowers, branches, twigs, or even organic forms through paper or fabric – usually through a shared experience. I suppose in naming myself an artist, I consider the experience for the viewer is as important, if not more so, than the appreciation of the material or craft itself, though usually these two go hand in hand.

Describe your journey into floral art…

I grew up having unfashionable tastes. I loved gardening and classical music. I arranged flowers for church, and my first employment as a 16-year-old was in a high street florist’s shop. I studied the cello from the age of eight and was enthralled by the romance and rigour of the classical music world. I loved art classes at school, but I felt I had to make a choice and I chose music. Much later on, I crossed paths with a pair of women growing their own flowers to sell and it bought me back to the possibilities of colour and visual expression.

How does music influence your work?

There are some very practical ways, through both my own learning and performance, as well as teaching the cello for over 20 years. I appreciate the element of practice behind the final performance; how much learning, trial and error, and bloody-mindedness goes into preparing for just a moment in the spotlight. Then music itself… there is balance, counterpoint, ecstasy, anticipation, rests and silence in visual art as much as in a symphony. I develop ideas differently because music is still at the core of all I love and struggle with. As the boundaries between being a musician, a florist, or an artist become less distinct, I find greater freedom. 100 Opposite Rachel Grimes at work Photo by Joanna Brown

Talk us through your creative process…

I think my best work is when spontaneity takes over and the final work becomes greater than the sum of its parts. I can’t always predict when that is going to happen, but there is a sweet spot when all the planning pays off and enables freedom in the design. Responding in real time is where the performer in me kicks in – improvisation at its best! My creative process involves a lot of time in my head (I’ve always been a dreamer), sometimes a bit of sketching or visual concept creation, a lot of note-taking, gathering of people, products, mechanics, and then… letting go. It’s important to be free enough to go with the design, to allow yourself to be moved as it is realised.

Tell us about your most ambitious project…

The most challenging element is working out the structure that will keep the flowers and other fresh elements alive for long enough. There are also challenges with weight, as fresh materials carry a lot of water and need access to even more water. Gravity is both helpful and a nuisance! I spend a lot of time pushing against the pinch point where ideas meet with practical limitations, but that’s often a source of inspiration in itself. The most logistically challenging projects involve suspending designs full of open soft blooms in midair: 400 blue hydrangeas floating in a cloud over Elizabeth Arden guests’ dining tables springs to mind.

Who are the great floral artists we should know about?

The art is at a really exciting point – it is bristling with creativity and interesting ideas. A few studios and individuals that make a good starting point are: PHKA Studio, Emma Thistlethwaite (Thistle By Nature), Yeon Hee, Federica Carlini, Wagner Kreusch and Madison Hartley (Hart Floral).

What are your plans for ROSA Botanical Art Fair?

I’m still at the very enjoyable concept phase for a couple of designs. One is in collaboration with a fellow exhibitor, and the other incorporates fabric to reflect structural elements within the gardens of West Dean.

Interview by Jessica Wood

You can find Rachel in themakersdirectory.co.uk