questions

question 1:  so tell us about the concept of 'lovely but dead', what does it mean to you?
The name “Lovely But Dead” originated during the pandemic. I was creating pressed flower art at the time, and in a search for an identity, I found a quote from Cassandra Clare:

“Their beauty had always seemed to him like the beauty of pressed flowers—lovely, but dead.”

I tried it out, and it seemed to resonate with people, so I kept it, and it followed me into collage art. Over time, I’ve come to realize that it encompasses more of me and my art than I expected it to—the sadness behind the smile, the beauty of decay, the subtle air of death in an aged photograph. But it also serves as a reminder that there is reason to celebrate these macabre elements, as they highlight the complexity and impermanence of life, inviting us to find beauty and meaning in unexpected places.

question 2: i think we may share a love for fungi. mushrooms abound in your art, why?
I have always been fascinated by plants and mushrooms and the way they slowly fight to reclaim their spaces. I love the imagery of overgrown amusement parks and abandoned places, where plants and mushrooms gradually invade man-made structures, causing them to decay and crumble back to the earth. I apply this to my art by depicting people who are full of movement and life, but also have plants and flowers growing up through the cracks.

question 3: for your collage art, how important is the source (age, origin etc.) of each small component? does it drive the creative process at all for you?
The leaves and flowers I use come from antique botany books, primarily Köhler’s Medicinal Plants, though I often draw from other sources. I love their aesthetic—they feel both natural and technical, which greatly appeals to me. For the central images, however, I tend to use more modern photography since older material offers only a narrow cross-section of people. I aim to represent all walks of life being enveloped in strange and lush environments.

question 4: if you could only choose flowers, or butterflies, for the rest of your art into the future, which would you choose and why?
This is a tough question! As much as I adore using flowers in my art, I think I would have to choose butterflies—they’re like little animated flowers that move and bounce around your head! 

question 5: ok so if you were a character in Winnie the Pooh - who do you think you'd be? Who would your family say you are ? :)
This is an even tougher question! 

I loved watching Winnie the Pooh when I was young and was always fond of Eeyore. Despite his sadness, he was genuine and a good friend. However, as I’ve grown older (and this might be cheating), I find myself relating most to the Hundred Acre Wood itself—a lush forest that houses a range of personalities and emotions, witnessing them as they struggle with everyday tasks.