FLOWER POWER

Catching up with Hamish Powell, a floral artist based in London

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WHAT DREW YOU to floral artistry? It was a beautiful accident.

My family has planty roots— Dad's a flower farmer, and my mum was a gardener—so my destiny was to work with plants and flowers.

I studied plant microbiology at university and needed a part-time job, so I blagged my way into a flower shop in Manchester. I wasn't a florist when I started, but I was enthusiastic and curious. I'd stay behind after work and pick leftovers from the bin to experiment and teach myself.

By the time I graduated, I was managing the flower shop. Then I was at a crossroads—do I carry on with plants as a science, or do I pursue plants as an art? That was answered for me when I was offered a job at a big florist in London. I was there for a couple of years and then I started my own company. It was never planned. I've just gone with the flow and now here I am.

How has this background helped your work?

You wouldn't think that the two sides of the brain are compatible, but I approach art as a science and science as an art. That helps me move in ways that are less predictable, and helps when planning the longevity of installations. I know what lasts and what survives in weather conditions. If you're a painter or a sculptor, you're just thinking about the aesthetic. But when you're working with plants as a medium, there's an extra level of biology that needs to be considered. With a biology background, I feel like I have a brain bond with the plants.

What do you think prompted a rise in the biophilic trend? A big part of the desire to bring plants and flowers inside is because we're becoming more detached from nature in our daily lives—we're on our computers or phones all the time. Many scientific papers prove the positive impact of having plants and flowers around you. We've got a hunger for it now and we're seeking extra vitality in our lives.