Floral Artist Hamish Powell's New London Studio Blends Science and Sculpture

Floral Artist Hamish Powell describes his new London studio, situated beneath a decommissioned railway arch in Camden, as ‘The Vessel’ – a nickname evoking a spaceship from a sci-fi movie. The space, designed in collaboration with Maximillian Worrell, features stainless-steel tables, crimson carpeting, and a unique amoeba-shaped desk, sketched by Hamish on a Post-it note and fabricated by a local carpenter.

A Background in Plant Science

Powell, a House & Garden New Creative Royalty alum, earned a degree in plant science at The University of Manchester before a part-time job at a flower shop shifted his career path. ‘I love rumex because it’s a really invasive weed, so cutting it and using it in my art feels like a full-circle narrative change,’ he explains, referencing a locally foraged specimen.

From Wedding Bouquets to High-Profile Commissions

Powell founded his practice in 2022. A pivotal moment arrived last summer when he was commissioned to create locally sourced arrangements for Charli XCX’s wedding – a bouquet of white flowers to complement her Vivienne Westwood dress. His botanical science background continues to influence his approach. ‘People often separate beauty and science, but I’m swimming in that blurred line where the two meet in my brain,’ he explains.

Innovative Techniques and Sculptural Designs

For a recent Victoria Beckham installation involving hundreds of unopened peonies, Powell recalled an anecdote about ants from his university days and devised a unique technique to encourage the blossoms to unfurl. His work emphasizes a sculptural quality, often employing welded-steel skeletons and chicken wire rather than standard foam. Amaranthus resembles candle wax, grapes are transformed into human-size sculptures, and potted flora create flourishing displays. Recent projects include an undulating commission using yellow craspedia and an arrangement of over 400 stems of Rumex crispus. His work has even extended to artful tomato mounds for Loewe’s London shops.