Rye
September 2020
Not too long ago, my friends and I were looking for a summer escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. We didn’t want to travel too far being somewhat drained from a gruelling week, so we decided to take an early morning train two hours south of London to the very popular seaside town of Rye in east Sussex. As soon as we arrived I was blown away. The sweeping seascape of white sandy shores and tall grasses instantly put me at ease, making me feel like I was far from London and very ready for a fun and relaxing weekend.
We began with a lofty ascent up the famous cobblestoned Mermaid street to admire the gorgeous Tudor houses, popping in and out of the lovely boutique shops. We stopped for a quick bite of delicious smoked salmon with salad at the 600 year old Mermaid Inn, finishing up with a cheeky gin cocktail. After more meandering through the city and mini photoshoots, we headed down to the beach.
It wasn’t the sunniest of days, but the coastal breeze was refreshing nonetheless, and as I walked barefoot down the sandy shore I noticed the odd hidden gem amongst the tall grasses. Tiny little maritime plants like rosemary, globe thistles and sea lavender, all scattered within the swaying sea grasses. Instantly I was inspired to create my own interpretation of a seaside bouquet. Wanting to include the lovely blooms growing up alongside the side of the medieval houses in the village, my collection includes soft roses, friendly and bright pink phlox, paired with the muted sandy tones of the Pampas grass. What’s very important to me is to capture the correct colour palette. The coastal views are serene and subdued with natural hues of greens and beiges, and small pops of fresh colour like a breath of fresh sea air.
I can’t wait for my next visit to this beautiful and historic place, and i hope my tribute is a true likeness to the tranquility you can find on a quick weekend trip to the coast.
Rye Bouquet
