Hi, I’m Leah! A Pressed Flower Artist based in Somerset, UK, and Contempfleury is the brand under which I journal and share my artwork. What sets my practice apart is the unique balance I strike between flowers and luxurious yarns, creating contemporary artworks and stories.
Inspiration has come from both obvious and unexpected sources. Like any pressed flower enthusiast, discovering the pressed flower archives of the Eighteenth-Century Botanists at The Natural History Museum, London, was an absolute joy and inspiration. The little paper urns they created to house their withered specimens were charming and simplistic, which I mimicked in my early designs.
More unexpected was that nostalgia for my childhood would inform my design as I raised my daughter. I reignited my love for embroidery, flower pressing, and storytelling. ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ stories, from the 80s began to direct a narrative to my children’s art as I created characters and the first chapters for stories that were to be finished through discussion between parent and child. I emptied my old flower press and filled it with flowers from my garden, experimenting until I was flower pressing stunning specimens. Lastly, I retaught myself to embroider simple embroidery stitches that I’d rework in new ways.
Similarly, I had never expected to draw inspiration from a medical practice where I worked part-time scheduling staff timetables. I became intrigued by the way social prescribing was discussed around me as a way to improve patient outcomes. I was fascinated with the idea that the connectivity between two people could improve and create happiness, and I wanted to incorporate the concept into my art. My daughter and I had written many stories together, and I wanted the concept of shared storytelling through art to be an important feature of my designs.
However, Contemporary art is not just a product or a story; it’s also a labour of love. Each piece is meticulously crafted, using only the finest materials that are designed to last for generations. I select museum-quality papers that withstand fading for up to 200 years, an ink printing process that uses premium pigment inks, and luxurious blends of silk and alpaca yarns. The symmetry and structure of the embroidery stitches are juxtaposed with the romantic, soft edges of the flower and petals. This unique combination is what gives Contempfleury its signature style.
My love for luxurious yarns stems from my early career background in handknitting for Vogue Knitting and Rowan Yarns. I also have an MA in Constructed Textiles from the Royal College of Art, London; my DNA is rather woolly! I knew it would make me happy to use luxurious fibres with my flowers, so I did, and each contributed equally to my style.
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Join the Contempfleury community on Etsy, Instagram , and Pinterest for a glimpse into the world of pressed flower art. Be the first to see new creations, get inspired, and be a part of our artistic journey. We value your support and feedback, and we can’t wait to share our passion with you.
Like an artist might use a paintbrush, Pressed Flower Artist, Leah uses page upon page of flowers and ball upon ball of wool to add colour to her world and the Contempfleury portfolio. I hope you enjoy it!
