The art of gentle floristry
- Audrey sources fresh flowers from daily markets
- Her works are inspired by Wimbledon shops
- Natural materials are at the heart of her practice
Audrey Oh’s approach to flower design is rooted in a deep respect for nature. After studying garden design at Writtle University College and flower design at Southwark College, she learned the principles of traditional English floristry from her professor Debbie Western. Today, Audrey’s work is guided by the belief that flowers are already complete in their natural state. Rather than transforming them, she gently arranges seasonal blooms and branches, allowing their forms, colours and fragrances to speak. “Visiting the flower market at dawn remains a daily ritual that shapes the mood of my arrangements and classes,” Audrey says. Through this intuitive process, she creates compositions that aim to remain elegant and timeless, beyond fleeting trends.
INTERVIEW
I respect materials as they are in nature. A florist should not dominate flowers but simply organise or combine them lightly. Seasonal blooms are the most beautiful to me, because they express nature at its freshest moment.
I rely strongly on the five senses in everyday life. Each dawn visit to the flower market sets the mood for the day’s classes and orders. I believe beauty exists in sadness as well as joy, so I remain true to every emotion, allowing my feelings to guide my work.
Flowers should always retain their beauty, even years later. Sometimes, bouquets in old wedding or graduation photos look dated. My aim is to create arrangements that remain natural and elegant beyond trends, and to collaborate on creations with artists, chefs and brands.
As a teacher, I encourage students to love flowers, respect nature and embrace all colours or varieties. As a shop owner, my rule is simple: source fresh seasonal flowers daily and work only with materials at their peak.
