Bubblegum pink, lichen, racing green and a touch of azure blue is the delicious colour recipe for a collection of show-stopping florals. They are a series of contemporary fine art paintings inspired by my own rose garden. The story of how they came to be is full of personal connection and the journey one painting took, to find its home in a new kitchen extension, is one of inspiration and commitment.

Surrounded by lush foliage, in a charming North Yorkshire garden, artist Jan Wilkins invited Little Bird and I to make cyanotype prints. As part of a fine art skills swap, Jan kindly gave us the opportunity to explore this curious blue technique. Arranging gathered flowers and leaves on light sensitive paper we had first hand experience of one of the earliest forms of photography.