Sketching at Chelsea Flower Show: Garden Inspiration, Planting Ideas & Sketchbook Notes

I was lucky enough to spend a lovely day with my mum at Chelsea Flower Show this year. It was a very busy day with lots of gorgeous garden designs

to see, so I enjoyed the opportunity to slow down by drawing the bits that caught my eye. I wanted to share a few pages from my sketchbook and some of the moments that stayed with me.

Whether I'm visiting a garden or travelling, sketching helps me to experience the place more deeply. It's about recording the feeling of moment, and noting the colours, shapes and textures that make up that feeling. Some sketches make their way into garden paintings, illustration or surface pattern designs later on in the studio, others just remain as quick notes to remind me of the day.

The first thing that caught my attention was this shop front on the walk from the station. I loved the oversized pots and the combination of the deep green shop front with pops of pink and purple.

Next was a houseplant studio garden called 'An Ode to Endurance'. I'm a sucker for a houseplant and the soft terracotta was a gorgeous backdrop.

A sunny place to stop at the Neptune Garden. This sketch feels like a sunny afternoon in the garden with a book, listening to the birds.

The harmony of the Tokonoma Garden evoked memories of Japanese travels. I love the clean lines, soft moss, vibrant greens and the framing of the path.

The Petersham Nurseries Garden - a desk cocooned by plants and my ideal working situation.

Looking through the sketches, some themes emerge: complimentary colour combinations, foliage framed by architectural elements and a sense of place that I connected with through memories or imagination of the future.

These are many of the same qualities that inspire my illustration work, whether I'm painting gardens, creating travel-inspired collections or developing surface pattern designs.

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