Secret world of flowers revealed at Exbury

Dorset artist Helen Simpson’s paintings of the intimate parts of flowers, showing what the eye doesn’t always see, are ‘pictures to climb into,’ said Nick de Rothschild of Exbury Gardens, where Helen’s exhibition ‘Move in Closer’ opened on Saturday.

Nick, whose family run the world-famous Gardens as a charitable trust, opened the colourful and acclaimed show in Exbury’s Five Arrows Gallery.
Guests enjoyed the pastels and oils, showing ruffled petals and secret hearts of tulips and iris, taffeta-like daffodil trumpets, crumpled leaves and bright stems of chard, all larger than life, inviting them into a world often overlooked.

“These are bees’ eyes views, giving a gentle picture of infinity,” said Nick “Without doubt they pull the spirit from the plant and lay it bare”.
All the paintings in the show, which is open until the last week in July, are for sale. Entry to the exhibition is free to all who pay to visit the Gardens.

For more details about Helen’s exhibition and other events at Exbury Gardens, please visit www.exbury.co.uk