Wallpaper Commission – Wild Hive

2022/23

This wallpaper installation has been designed and created by botanical artist Bee Watson, founder of Wild Hive Paper Flowers.

Commissioned by Arts and Culture, University of Exeter, this spectacular wallpaper is inspired by the flora and foliage on the Streatham Campus and is now on display in the Queen's Building. The flowers and leaves are all constructed from paper, photographed, and then transformed into a repeat pattern.

An alumna of the University, Bee wanted to capture the experience that students, staff and visitors have of being greeted by the steep banks of greenery as they walk up through campus.

In preparation, Bee had a tour of the site with Drew Jarman-Norris, a member of the University’s Grounds Team, to identify suitable plants. She then made a series of sketches to inform the paper designs and used the drawings to create templates before recreating the flowers as true to form as possible from specialist crepe paper. Bee selected flowers and leaves for their vivid colour, strong shapes, and prevalence around Streatham.

The flowers in this design – rhododendrons and azaleas - can be seen April-June.

The gardens offer huge variety year round for inspiration, relaxation and enjoyment.

Rhododendron - *Rhododendron arboreum *

Azalea - *Rhododendron arboreum “Orange Beauty” *

Fern - Asplenium scolopendrium

About Wild Hive

Wild Hive Paper Flowers is the studio of Devon based botanical artist, Bee Watson who creates detailed crepe paper flowers from the study and photography of live flora and foliage. Here’s what she says about her practice:

'Paper flower making connected me back to the world in a way I never expected. It gave me a reverence for nature that I didn't have before. It made me notice the seasons change and excited, rather than anxious, about the passage of time. Crafting is a tool which also helped me learn to live in negotiation with my mental health and I now work to share and hold space for people to experience all the joy, wonder and peace it can bring too through workshops, kits and collaborations like this one.'