THE MASTERCLASS
Join us for three unforgettable days of paper flower crafting in the beautiful Norfolk countryside. Hosted by two experienced tutors, this series of paper botanical masterclasses offers the perfect blend of artistry, inspiration, and relaxation. Your tutors are passionate about their craft: Meg Lowder, who brings a wealth of creative experience from graphic design to bookbinding and has devoted her career to teaching the art of paper flowers; and Ling Warlow, a wildflower enthusiast, exhibited artist, and experienced educator whose work has been supported by Arts Council England.
Set in Meg’s spacious, light-filled home with views of the rustic courtyard and expansive gardens, each day is designed to help you connect with your creativity through nature. Together, we’ll explore a wide range of creative techniques including colouring, cutting and shaping crepe paper, and craft a collection of three distinct flowers: Bearded Iris, a branch of Magnolia and an English Rose. The techniques you learn over the course of the Masterclass will give you transferable skills to apply to your future floral creations.
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Enjoy thoughtfully catered lunches featuring botanical-inspired menus and optional evening activities, including wild swimming and a sauna at Keswick Mill followed by supper. Flexible attendance options allow you to book the full three day masterclass or a two day weekend ticket (Saturday and Sunday). ​
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You don't need any experience, just an open mind and love of nature. We will guide you through each step of our making process with carefully designed classes for absolute beginners to experienced creatives.​
MEET YOUR HOSTS, LING & MEG
If you dream of immersing yourself in a nurturing, creative space while deepening your connection with nature, this retreat is designed for you. No prior experience is needed—just a willingness to explore your creativity and embrace the joy of learning something new.
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Guided by your hosts, Ling Warlow and Meg Lowder, you’ll enjoy five inspiring sessions of expert tuition. Together, they’ll introduce you to a world of possibilities in paper flower crafting, sharing their unique approaches and creative expertise.
By the end of the retreat, you’ll have mastered a variety of techniques and styles, creating a collection of exquisite paper flowers to take home and treasure.
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THE PAPER GARDEN MASTERCLASS
Between them, Ling and Meg have spent the best part of a decade immersed in paper flowers. They met online, perhaps recognising a kindred soul as they followed each others progress from different sides of the country. Reaching out, they soon found discovered that their shared passion for paper flowers was, for both of them, based on the same core belief. Each finding their creative practice rooted in a study of nature, they experienced first hand the potent combination of nature and art. Meg is fascinated by the many beautiful gardens and the wealth of stunning flowers on her doorstep in Keswick, Norfolk, whilst Ling's heart belongs to British wildflowers and she is passionate about the concept of connecting with nature.
"There is a fundamental difference between ‘being in’ nature and ‘connecting to’ nature. Being in nature, or having a ‘dose of nature’, suggests that when not ‘in nature’, we are outside of it. To develop a connection to nature is to develop a relationship, an emotional bond, seeing ourselves as part of nature. Many studies demonstrate that developing a connection to nature is an important step in healing our fractured thinking, bringing with it a paradigm shift, an altered worldview, a change in behaviour."
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The Flourishing retreat is about giving yourself time to work on your connection to nature, through the medium of paper craft. The process of studying a flower, and working out how to recreate it, is a truly mindful practice. The process of crafting a flower using nothing but paper, wire and glue and the simplest of tools - your hands and a pair of scissors - is absorbing, meditative - and genuinely rewarding.
OVER THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS...
​​Friday 26th September 10am - 6pm
Take a deep dive into the botanical details that make your paper flowers come to life. You will be looking at colouring techniques, examining a variety of stamen, petals and leaf construction methods, and creating your very own paper English Rose.
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Saturday 27th September 10am - 6pm
Create a stunningly lifelike branch of Magnolia, using a real branch and focussing on realism in the petals, flowers and leaves.
Sunday 28th September 10am - 6pm
The elegant Bearded Iris lends itself well to artistic interpretation, with less realism and more expression. This architectural bloom will complete the masterclass and send you home with a stunning trio of flowers and a tool box full of new techniques. Whether you seek new skills or pure creative immersion, this masterclass is for you.​​
Meg Lowder
Graduating from Bristol in 1998 as a graphic designer, paper quickly became the main focus of Meg's art. But it wasn't until she came across Tiffanie Turner's iconic book that she fell in love with paper flowers, devouring everything she came across, spending hours reading, watching, practicing - teaching herself and refining as she went along, whilst immersing herself in nature.
"Most importantly I learned from the flowers growing in my garden. I would choose a bloom, take it apart, and study every bit of the flower, making templates of all the different parts. I would then cut each piece from hand-dyed crepe papers and reconstruct it to make my own delicate paper version."
What started as a hobby for Meg rapidly evolved into an all-consuming passion and culminated in the establishment of her flourishing business, aptly named "Floragami." She has exhibited alongside fellow artists at the Fairhurst Gallery in Norwich and featured in The Simple Things Magazine. Meg loves to share her passion for paper flowers with others and delivers engaging workshops, designed to bring people together for a few hours of creative rejuvenation and joy. The shared experience of crafting with one's hands, achieving the seemingly impossible, imparts a profound sense of tranquility and accomplishment.
“It's a delight to teach, watching the stresses of the day melt away as stamens and petals are cut and shaped, and seeing that magical moment when someone falls in love with what they have made, the flower coming to life in front of them”
​​"I don’t think it’s over dramatic to say that discovering these delightful workshops with the even more delightful Meg have changed my life for the better. I have rediscovered my love for craft, mindfulness and connection with similar creative people. Meg teaches in an intuitive and calm way, ensuring that the initially daunting task ahead very soon seems achievable and within reach. I’ve never been to a workshop of Megs where every single person isn’t totally enchanted with what they make. I’m hooked! " Sam T
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"Meg’s flower courses are an addiction! You cannot stop at just one! I’ve always loved working with paper and I love flowers so the Florigami workshops are the perfect relaxing activity for me. Meg is super talented and her attention to detail speaks to my own creative nature. The joy of spending a few hours creating something beautiful in the company of like minded folk is just perfect. Add in a tasty home baked gluten free cake and it doesn’t get much better." Imogen​
WHAT THEY SAY
Ling Warlow
A creative artist specialising in events, Ling's paper flower journey really got started when her thriving stationery business came to a halt during the lockdown of 2020. Out in nature on daily walks with her family, Ling found herself rediscovering her childhood passion for wildflowers, and completely changed her creative direction, embracing paper flowers wholeheartedly.
Funded by the Arts Council to develop her work, she has since gone on to create flowers for a wide range of settings, from props for TV shows to projects in schools, installations of giant wildflowers for National Museums Liverpool and creative photoshoots, as well as developing a delightful series of Paper Wildflower Craft Kits. Ling has been featured in Country Living UK and Country Homes and Interiors Magazine, teaches regular classes including visiting schools and writes about connecting to nature through art as The Paper Wildflower on Substack.
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"I am passionate about sharing the experience of mindful connection which creating paper flowers brings me. The simplest flowers, which grow from a single seed, can take days - even weeks - to recreate accurately, yet nature grows them from a single seed. The process is utterly absorbing and there is a moment of magic when the flower you create springs to life - it is a joy to watch students faces when they see what they have created!"​​
​"Ling is an incredible teacher. She really focuses on ensuring her pupils feel accomplished in paper flower making and go.home with beautiful creations they can be proud of. I look forward to her lessons every week!" Therese​
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"After meeting Ling at an event and being amazed by her beautiful flower creations, she has opened my eyes to the joys of paper flowers. Her enthusiasm and patience when teaching makes every class a pleasure. I would recommend visiting any of her Installations to really see the wonder that online images can't convey. For the more practical, you will be astounded by the flowers you can create with her guidance." Stephanie
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"Ling is an incredible artist and fantastic tutor, generous with her expertise and time. Workshops are always small groups and provide lots of fun as well as beautiful completed flowers." Kate
WHAT THEY SAY
ACCOMMODATION
For those coming from further afield, there are many accommodation options available in and around Norwich. The closest option is this beautiful old watermill in Keswick. If you are interested in staying here please contact us for further details as we have reserved the Mill for guests to book. Available on a first come, first served basis!
MEET OUR CHEF
Katie Park
Katie Park is as colourful and delicious as the wonderful menus and dishes she creates.
We have worked closely with Katie to develop botanically inspired menus which will be a pleasure for all our senses!
Katie will be joining us on site throughout the retreat and can cater for your dietary requirements. please remember to let us know when you book if you have any allergies, intolerances or special needs.
As well as breakfast, lunch and dinner, Katie will be providing us with a wonderful selection of sweet and savoury treats throughout the retreat, as well as hosting a botanical cocktail evening on the first evening.
I'M IN! HOW DO I BOOK?
JOIN LING AND MEG AT OUR PAPER GARDEN MASTERCLASS!
HEAD OVER TO OUR BOOKING PAGE TO SEE YOUR BOOKING OPTIONS.
FULL MASTERCLASS 3 DAY TICKET £360
TWO DAY WEEKEND ONLY TICKET £270
WE CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE FLOWERS WITH YOU!
Payment in full is required when booking Please make sure you read the cancellation policy when booking