KEVIN J COLLINS

Passion for flowers; looking deeper for inner beauty.

Whenever I sit down and paint for pleasure it’s flowers that are my chosen subject. My love for flowers came from a family of keen gardeners. Roses take me to my grandmother, London Pride my father, Agapanthus my sister. For so many people flowers hold a special place in their lives.

Flowers have a fragile fleeting beauty, with an incredible colour range and a complex composition. Along with their critical importance in the whole natural balance of life’s cycle and the celebration and reassurance of the seasons. They are just glorious subject matter for my artistic endeavour.

As an artist to explore this amazing relationship between a flowers form, colour and composition has been a life long passion. My paintings are not perfect accurate representation of flowers. I’m striving for their inner beauty, their wow. Flowers symbolism is everywhere, poppies, peace lilies, roses their connection to the human story is not to be underestimated. I want to convey this importance.

My move from Hampshire to Cornwall was to explore and develop my art in another beautiful part of the world. But it was not the dramatic coast and seascapes, but the abundance of flora which the Cornish mild climate allows, was the reason for me up sticks and move.

My work developed and my love of flowers grew bringing in commissions and a deep connection with the gardens of Cornwall. It’s been a wonderful journey. To be connecting with so many people through a common love of flowers. Hearing the importance of a particular flower. 

How flowers evoke warm memories and happiness. So many have become friends along the way. To have their involvement from concept ideas to a finished painting hanging in their home is a very special way to work. 

My only hope is the my art is seen as not merely a pretty flower, but a passion for the wonders of life.