CREATOR OF THE MONTH
The artist creates sculptures using dried flowers and plants foraged from the countryside surrounding her home in Hay-on-Wye
Raised in the Golden Valley in Herefordshire, renowned for its stunning landscape, Layla has always loved flowers. Her passion continued when she trained in horticulture and garden design, before setting up her own sustainable floristry business. After several years of juggling weddings and events with having three young children, she decided to swap fresh flowers for the dried variety, creating exquisite sculptures that bring nature into the home all year round.
How would you describe your work?
Everlasting floral art and sculpture. I take afresh approach to using dried flowers, staying modern but capturing the mythical folklore essence of wild hedgerows and colourful abandon. My work is acurious mixture of slightly stark minimalism mixed with passion, colour and joy, which works together to bring interiors to life.
Where are you based?
I live high up in the hills behind Hay-on-Wye. I built my garden studio two years ago and it’s revolutionised the way Iwork. Made of wood, it has windows on all sides and large French doors that open out onto my everlasting flower garden. Ionly have to look up to find inspiration!
Talk us through your process.
Most of my sculptures will have some form of twigs as abase, foraged from my local hedgerows. The flowers Iuse are all grown in my garden. My designs are always evolving, as Idream up fresh ideas. There are few better feelings than seeing avision come together and witnessing the joy it brings when I deliver it.
What do you love about your work?
Aside from working with flowers, I love the variety. One day Imight be teaching aworkshop, the next decorating afestival, shop or café, working on TV or magazine shoots, or making special things for people’s homes. Possibilities and potential are endless, and that is so exciting.
Any good advice for independent creatives looking to start their own business?
Consider how you might stand out from the crowd. What makes what you’re offering abit different? There’s alot of competition out there now; online social media advertising is available to all, big and small. What will make your star shine? laylarobinson.com
A place to visit...
In the pretty Hampshire town of Stockbridge you’ll find Meadow, abeautifully minimalist cafe, kitchen and gallery where you can enjoy tasty treats and browse arange of hand-curated artworks. Book one of the creative workshops, such as Planting Design for Beginners with Lottie Delamain (above, 29 February, 9:30am-1pm, £95 per person) or Textile Weaving Workshop with Maria Sigma, showing you how to transform household textiles into imaginative artworks (1 February, 10am-12:30pm, £65 per person). Find out more at meadow
