Tresco Abbey Gardens; Isles of Scilly Diaries part three
Artistic overwhelm between the tall palms and endless flowers
If you know my work, you’ll know that I’m flower obsessed. Visiting the Isles of Scilly was never just going to be about capturing the coastline and glorious beaches.
Tresco Abbey Gardens is world renowned for its subtropical plant collection, with over 20,000 plants from more than 80 countries. Some say it’s Kew Gardens without the glass.
I’ve never seen plants so juicy, so ginormous and so generous all at once. I went straight for the lily pads on the pond, painting them with colbalt blue bringing out the cool fresh feeling of the shade under the trees.
And the pink, so many good pinks, so many shades - I could have mixed paint happily for days.
Flowers were in charge on that island. The people were merely there to serve them, and it gave us all a sense of perspective.
After a boat trip back to St Mary’s and a very packed cart ride back to the house with the easel strapped to the roof, we savoured a round of rejuvenating tea around the table.
However, the sun was now sinking in the sky and the light mellowed to the point where staying inside and resting was no longer an option. I picked a huge 150x120cm canvas and headed down to our nearest beach, Porthloo, Kimmy painting beside me on the sand.
Gifted travel from Isles of Scilly Travel, including the St Mary's Boatmen's Association tripper boat to and from Tresco, accommodation and transport from Scilly Carts. Photography by Tiree Dawson.
Browse and shop the works at www.emilypowellstudio.com/isles-of-scilly
arrghh! I am gutted that I missed you at the gardens - I adore your work and live on Bryher. Would have loved to have seen you.!
Fabulous