“In plain sight”
I’m currently redirecting my work as a botanical artist to explore identity through the lens of adaptation. I’ve become fascinated by the mechanisms orchids use to survive, especially those that mimic, deceive, or adapt to their environment to thrive. This new body of work takes those strategies and parallels them with human behaviour, particularly how we, too, shape-shift in response to social expectations.
As someone who has spent years studying and painting the natural world, I work with botanical accuracy as the foundation for deeper narratives. My paintings still focus on detail and celebrate the beauty of flowers, but now they also speak about identity, masking, honesty, and survival.
Orchids like the Cymbidium, which offer what they are without deceit, stand in contrast to others that use mimicry to get what they need. This tension is central to the work. I want viewers to see themselves in these plants, to recognise their own stories in the delicate balance between visibility and adaptation.
This collection is not only about plants. It’s about us. It’s about how we all find ways to belong. Through botanical storytelling and fine detail, I invite people to pause and connect with a deeper part of themselves through nature.
These are oil paintings in sizes 80x80cm ( 31,5in. x 31,5 in) like the one in the picture below, and smaller.
The work is still in progress.
In my newsletter, I will be doing an update on the development of this series. I invite you to join me and access early release of my work, a little discount and more 🙂
