Meet the winning designers behind our virtual Student Flower Festival

Back in the dark days of January 2021, we invited floristry students from colleges across the United Kingdom to send us their designs on the theme of 'springtime'. We were overwhelmed and uplifted by the response - the future of floristry is looking bright indeed. Here we speak to the winners and runners up about their creations, what they are studying and their most favourite blooms. 

Mandy Bunnett,  ‘Spring Globe’, winner of category A

ECT:  What are you studying, where and why?

MB: I have been studying floristry at Bath College. I've always enjoyed being creative and anything to do with art, colour and design and that, combined with my fascination for flowers, the varieties, how they grow throughout the seasons and my love of the natural world, inspired me to study floristry.  As a mature student, I feel privileged to be able to devote the time towards developing a career as a florist that I'm finding interesting and rewarding. I am really looking forward to creating bridal bouquets and wedding flowers in the future.

ECT: Tell us about your winning design, Spring Globe 

MB: It was initially inspired by the contemporary globe bowl - the globe signifying travel worldwide, which is appropriate for ECT travel. The colours of the globe bowl represent land and sky. The brightly coloured polychromatic spring flowers, using several colours of the rainbow, represent ‘hope’ for a brighter future as the spring unfolds.

ECT: And how did you construct it?

MB: I used chicken wire inside the bowl to ensure a steady base and used some twisted ivy to build a framework that supported the flowers. I started making the shape of the design using the curves of the soft Ruscus (butcher's broom), the long thin beargrass, and bright green Thlaspi (pennycress), creating space, movement and flow. Next I added the tall, blue-violet iris to develop height and width that contrasted in colour, size and shape with the vibrant orange gerberas, the yellow daffodils, freesias and chrysanthemum’s. I used red spray carnations and dark, maroon-coloured hellebores to lead the eye into the design. The orange tulips follow the line of the curves of the foliage.

ECT: How would you describe your floral design style?

MB: Contemporary

ECT: What is your favourite flower and why?

MB: I have several favourites! The list definitely includes hellebores, lily of the valley, roses, and wisteria, but I also particularly enjoy Nigella damascena, or ‘Love in a Mist’, because of the beautiful blue colour, the interesting delicate form and the lovely seed heads.

Clara Agnew, 'Blooming Tree', winner of category B

ECT:  What are you studying, where and why?

CA: I loved gardening with my granda when I was young and, when he passed away, I started making grave sprays for his grave. My passion for floristry started there and I've been doing it ever since. I recently graduated from CAFRE College, where I studied the Level 3 City and Guilds extended diploma in floristry, and I am currently on the training programme for young skilled workers, Squad UK, training for Worldskills UK. All being well, I will compete in Shanghai next year against florists from all over the world.

ECT: Tell us about your winning design, 'Blooming Tree'

JL: It started as a random thought in my head - a bright, colourful tree just screams 'spring' to me. I used a variety of seasonal flowers - there are tulips, hyacinths, viburnum, hellebores, Dendrobium orchid, ranunculus, genista and magnolia branches. 

ECT: And how did you construct it?

JL: I made the base from wire, twisting it to form the tree shape,then reinforced the structure with magnolia branches. The flowers were all in test tubes.

ECT: How would you describe your floral design style?

JL: My everyday design style is quite country and wild, but for competitions, it's just about thinking outside the box.

ECT: What is your favourite flower and why?

JL: That's a hard question - there are so many! But if I have to choose, it would probably be delphiniums because they're just so beautiful. They also come in a stunning range of blues and blue is my favourite colour.

Julie Lawrence, 'Spring Blooms, Handtied', runner-up in category A

ECT:  What are you studying, where and why?

JL: I am studying Events Floristry at Capel Manor College. As an accessories designer, and ready for a challenge after years running a successful business, I needed fresh inspiration and decided to focus on something I love - flowers! It's a subject that has allowed me to use the design skills I acquired studying jewellery (form, colour, pattern and line) and to work with my hands, so it seemed like a natural move. My tutor, Amanda Watts, who is herself a highly experienced florist, has inspired and supported me ever since the day I first met her at my interview. 

ECT: Tell us about your winning design, Spring Blooms, Handtied

JL: The bouquet contains roses, as focal flowers, tulips, and Matthiola incana - or stocks - for their length and directional lines. There are also three filler flowers - button chrysanthemums, daises and agapanthus. I cut the camellia foliage from my garden. I wanted the entire bouquet to have the feeling of an English garden in spring which, for me, is a time full of new beginning, hope and optimism after the dreariness of grey winter days and dark nights. Hence the vibrancy of the colours.

ECT: And how did you construct it?

JL: I used the traditional handtied spiralling method taught to me on Capel Manor's professional Floristry Level 2, which I completed last year. It allows for volume within the design. 

ECT: How would you describe your floral design style?

JL: Romantic and natural

ECT: What is your favourite flower and why?

JL: The peony. I love the delicacy of the tissue-like petals and the way that they layer perfectly to create a beautiful, full bloom that demands attention. And then there's their beautiful pink colour.

Hannah Beckley, 'Body Adornment of Spring Flowers', runner-up in Category B

ECT:  What are you studying, where and why?

HB: When I was 15, I went to work for a florist for school work experience. I didn't know what I wanted to be then, but I instantly fell in love and, five years on, I am still loving it! I am now at Morton Morrell College, studying Level 4 floristry, higher diploma. What I like most is that I get to be creative every day and make lots of people happy when they receive flowers.

ECT: Tell us about your winning design, 'Body Adornment of Spring Flowers'

HB: I used Mascari (grape hyacinth), spray roses, Ranunculus butterfly theseus, Aspidistra elatior, Stephanotis floribunda, Acacia dealbata (mimosa), Eustoma russellianum (Texas bluebell), Hypericum and two types of garden hyacinths. I chose a green, hand-wooled base to go with the colour of spring and also to create a delicate, airy feel.

ECT: And how did you construct it?

HB: The design was driven by the placement of the flowers and I exaggerated the crossing of material demonstrated by the blue grape hyacinths. The base was created from a selection of stub wires, covered in wool, and connected together in a triangle formation, then the flowers were glued and wired on.

ECT: How would you describe your floral design style?

HB: My most dominant style is very decorative. I enjoy making frameworks for each of my designs and having the overall piece looking its best. 

ECT: What is your favourite flower and why?

HB: At the moment it's Viburnum opulus. The lacey texture of the flower creates a very soft look and I love how the green slowly fades to white as it starts to wilt. I find that very beautiful.

You can see all the designs in our glorious gallery - it's a celebration of spring!