The Million Flowers Community Art Project

Over 500 Flowers are painted

We wanted as many people from the local community as possible to be involved and guided to paint a flower for this project, inspired by the vision of local benefactor Keith Owen, with one of his suggestions being to fill Sidmouth with flowers.

The project was initiated by artist Maureen Hawkridge and the u3a Exploring Art Group who made paintings of flowers to inspire the other participants, and who ran a number of flower painting workshops open to everyone.

Workshops in local schools were facilitated by Sidmouth School of Art and run by Exploring Art volunteers. Flower paintings were also contributed by local art groups and by people working at home. Other art groups also took part including Painting for Pleasure, a Sidmouth u3a group. Friday Painters’ Group of Sidmouth Society of Artists and Sidbury Art Group.

401 people aged from 4 to 85 contributed their paintings, and the finished artwork contains 558 flowers, leaves, butterflies and insects.

Each painted flower has been digitally collaged to create a new artwork for all to see on Sidmouth's public art gallery overlooking the Ham carpark.

This Wallspace billboard now showing - celebrates the work of the participants and of the people who make the flowers bloom, whether in public displays or in their own gardens.

Make a Million Flowers Bloom

Facilitating community participation

The project aimed to create a new co-produced artwork but as ever with Sidmouth School of Art - the taking part is just as important, providing a place to meet new people, learn new skills, relax through shared endeavour and feel good. 

Guides, Brownies and adults in the community have been busy painting their flowers.  Workshops took place in schools and in the community.

Sidmouth School of Art also facilitated Tipton St John Primary School children to take part.

The Exploring Art Group of Sidmouth u3a supported a series of workshops at the Guide HQ at Lawn Vista from May to August '24 - their volunteering for the project is hugely appreciated.

Those who were unable to make the workshops painted flowers at home with guidance from Maureen Hawkridge. Thanks all those who took part.

The project is supported by a grant from the Sid Vale Association's Keith Owen Fund and showcases the many varieties of flowers that grow in Sidmouth in our public parks and gardens, wild flower meadows and in people's own gardens.

The Association promotes conservation, protection and enhancement of the heritage and natural environment, runs the Sidmouth museum, and supports initiatives for recreational and cultural activities in the Sid Valley. 

In the 15 years since the Keith Owen Fund was established, over one million pounds in grants has been given to organisations within the Sid Valley for a wide range of projects.  This includes some to make a million flowers bloom, such as school and community gardens, community bulb and tree planting, floral displays, wildflower meadows and nature conservation.