[Hidcote Artist in Residence]

In 2024, I was the artist in residence at Hidcote, a National Trust property in the Cotswolds. I produced a series of three works inspired by the beautiful formal gardens at Hidcote, using materials I foraged from the garden on visits throughout 2023.

Hydrangeas at Hidcote is inspired by the climbing hydrangeas around the window of Hidcote Manor – a lovely example of humans and nature working together to create a picture of timeless beauty. In the design of this piece I pushed the flowers towards the outer edges to showcase the head structure of the lacecap varieties of hydrangea.

Hedges at Hidcote is inspired by the Stilt Garden – a wonderful example of how humans can shape nature in a positive way. I set myself the challenge of trying to recapture the striking contrast between the hedge’s meticulously sharp edges and the intricate organic patterns of the intertwining branches, which are especially clear to admire in winter or early spring when the tiny new buds give the hedge a soft green tint.

Seedheads at Hidcote is made from seedheads foraged while the garden was in its dormant phase, and arranged in a geometric pattern that evokes layers in a garden. This piece is intended to showcase how there is beauty to be found in a formal garden in any season - not only when the flowers are in bloom.

I was delighted to be asked to exhibit at Hidcote. I think there’s a conceptual harmony between my flowers-on-tulle embroidery practice and curating a formal garden - a kind of collaborative art project, in which nature inspires humans to work with its rhythm and beauty, structuring and combining it in new ways.

Please see all the artworks available for purchase at Hidcote, from 29 March to 30 September 2024. There’s a small range of other available works at CAA Gallery, London.