Pip Carter on the Art of Flowers

Have flowers always been your muse?

They pretty much have! I used to spend long summer days sitting cross-legged in the woods with my watercolour palette painting every wildflower or leaf I could see, which really influenced my style. I adore the movement of flowers – whether that’s the sway of a stem in the breeze, or their growth from bud to open flower. Seeing the full lifespan of something so ephemeral in such a short time always inspires me.

How has your style evolved over the years?

The biggest evolution for me over the last couple years has been the scale and materials I use. I’m really inspired by Matisse’s cut-out technique, because there’s only so much detail you can capture with scissors. I find the inevitable wonkiness from drawing with scissors so liberating.

Can you talk us through your process?

Once I’ve decided on the flowers for a piece, I’ll gather as much visual information as I can. If it’s a wildflower, I’ll go off, crouch down in the grass and take a bounty of photos from different angles. Otherwise, I’ll have a look through my library of flower books. After that, I’ll paint paper sheets with gouache and cut out the flowers’ silhouettes. My studio starts filling with paper petals as I layer and layer to create a feeling of abundance. Lastly, the most time-consuming and delicate step is gluing down each cutting with tweezers and Japanese glue – I’d be lost without them.

What comes first: your colour palette or choice of flowers?

I like exploring different moods and seasonal sensations – so, usually, I’ll start off with a colour palette and then I’ll choose the flowers best suited. I made a very summery piece with long-stemmed wildflowers and grasses waving in the breeze recently. I wanted to transport the viewer to a meadow field with the hum of crickets surrounding them – and, so, to capture that energy, I used warm yellow and peachy hues.

We love how flowers can breathe fresh life and lightness into interiors. Do you have any tips for sprucing up homes and studio spaces?

A lovely bunch of blooms on our dining table never fails to make me feel happy – they’re just the simplest, most immediate way to transform a space. The tricky thing is that our cat, Rocco, is also a fan of them. Music plays a big role in my studio environment too. We’re so lucky to have such amazing independent radio stations in London – so, I usually tune into NTS or Do You Radio, with the likes of Patrick Forge and Dave Holloway, to set the mood.

We’re beyond excited for your Somewhere in the Nowhere exhibition with Freddie. But, first, can you tell us how you met?

Freddie and I have been friends since school – so, for almost 25 years! We’ve been through a lot – I love looking through old photos and spotting all the dodgy haircuts and ill-advised outfits we had. But the really special moment was when Freddie and one of my closest friends, Sophie, got together. I think after school, they just couldn’t play it cool for much longer – and I remember so clearly when he started Freddie’s Flowers. He had this milk float to do the deliveries and was getting up at about 5am each morning to head to Covent Garden Flower Market. He’s worked so incredibly hard, but Freddie is honestly the loveliest guy in the world. It makes all of us friends so happy to see this incredible company he’s brought to life.

And what a full-circle moment! What can we expect from your exhibition together?

I’d been in talks with Air Mail about exhibiting some of my paintings there – and, since the artworks are already layered in collage form, I wanted to push the idea one step further with displays of real-life flowers by Freddie nestled around them. We’re focusing on two iconic stems: the poppy and the iris. And, since the space is so intimate, we’ll have the opportunity to create a really generous, immersive experience. The place is going to be teeming with florals, in both painted and organic form. And, while the show comes with plenty of nerves, I’m the most creatively inspired I’ve ever been right now. I truly can’t wait!

Don't miss out on Pip Carter's exhibition Somewhere in the Nowhere in partnership with Freddie's Flowers, taking place on 28-29th May at Air Mail, Marylebone.