Shannon Clegg

Botanical sculptor

©Shannon Clegg

Connecting with nature

Shannon creates 3D pressed flower sculptures
It takes her 6 weeks to create a flower sculpture
Her South African heritage is her biggest inspiration

Shannon Clegg grew up among the flora of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, where after schooling she trained to be a tailor. After a brief stint in fashion, Shannon realised she had “issues with the ethics of production in the industry” so packed her bags for London, hoping to discover different contexts for making. She went on to take a Bachelor's in Contemporary Crafts at Falmouth University in Cornwall and a Master's in Product and Furniture Design at Kingston University in London. Shannon’s work looks to innovate traditional craft processes to create objects that connect people to nature. Inspired by the traditional craft technique of 2D flower pressing she created a unique method to transform flower material into elegant, standalone vase-like sculptures.

Interview

©Shannon Clegg

©Shannon Clegg

How do you create your floral sculptures?: Inspired by the craft technique of flower pressing I developed a unique hand process to press fresh flowers into a variety of 3D, vase-like sculptures, which I call ‘Bouquet’. The technique involves handmaking moulds that are used to shape the plant material over several weeks after which they are preserved to help retain the flower’s colour and shape.
Can you tell us about your unique technique?: An antique wooden tie press I bought at a car boot sale made me question the craft process of flower pressing. I couldn’t stop thinking about how to go from 2D to 3D pressing of flowers and so began the long journey of creating a process to press flowers three dimensionally.
Did you do any research?: My research was based at The Herbarium at The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, looking back through archival methods for storing pressed flowers from around the world and the tools and equipment used by botanists to collect and press flowers.
Does your heritage influence your craft?: My biggest inspiration is my South African heritage, its resourcefulness and culture as well as its environmental diversity. The ingenuity of the people back home shines through in their ability to create with the resources available to them. This ethos translates to my own work.

Shannon Clegg is an expert artisan she began her career in 2010