Nikki Tibbles

The only rule is no rules

• Nikki launched her flower studio 20 years ago
• Her eclectic style is based on unexpected combinations of colours and patterns
• Everyday she draws inspiration from nature while walking her dogs

When it came to choosing a name for her flower design studio in the early 1990s, Nikki Tibbles was struck by a movie title she read in a magazine. 'Wild at Heart' starring Nicholas Cage. "I thought that answering the phone with 'Hello, Wild at Heart' would sound good" she says. Moreover, the name suited her personality and the style of her flowers, which she defines as eclectic. She doesn’t like to be restricted in any way: "I just want to be me. I love colours, combining patterns on patterns. Just as I wear a floral dress with a sporty jacket or a striped skirt with a checked jumper, I like putting flowers together that people wouldn’t normally expect.". Her creative flair definitely paid off. Nowadays, Wild at Heart is one of the most celebrated British luxury florists, sought after for fairy tale weddings and A-list events.

Interview

©Wild At Heart

©Wild At Heart

What do you love most about your job?

I have the attention span of a small child and get bored very easily. But flowers are constantly changing with the season, every client is different as well as every venue and event. This way, every day of my life is different. After all these years, I still enjoy what I do and feel grateful for it.

What’s your main source of inspiration?

Nature. Most of the time, people walk head down, looking at their phones. But, as I walk my dogs everyday – in the forest or on the beach – I have learned to appreciate all the colours, textures and fragrances around me.

What’s the role of seasonality in your choice of flowers?

It’s vital. Nowadays, you can get almost any flowers all year round, but it seems so wrong to me to have peonies at Christmas. Waiting for them until early summer makes me love them even more. It’s the same with food: I don’t need strawberries in January, I’m happy to eat something else and build the anticipation.

Do your installations require a lot of preparatory work?

We have a lot of briefings, draw sketches, discuss all technical details. We talk a lot with our clients so that they know exactly what they are getting. We may spend months working on an event. And then, in less than 24 hours it’s all over. Strange as it may seem, I love this impermanence, too.

Nikki Tibbles is a master artisan: she began her career in 2003 and she started teaching in 2013

Works

©Wild At Heart

©Wild At Heart

©Wild At Heart

©Wild At Heart

©Wild At Heart

Where