Florence Millar

Seeking to connect back to my Scottish heritage Nature’s Highlander unearths the roots of my family history, the found natures within the land and elements of storytelling within Scotland’s rich past.

Elements of the natural world are a big part of my family’s history and are apparent throughout my work. Whether it is the unspoilt remoteness of the Scottish landscape, with its empty glens, the tactile fission of bone, dried foliage and rugged mountains. All of which form painterly expression and observational detail. The land represents beauty, peace and tranquillity and has its own sense of the rhythm of search and discovery, which promotes oneness with the environment and personal enlightenment.



Being an avid collector I became interested in the concept of 19th-century family photographs and heirlooms, found natures collected from the land and imagery inspired by the storytelling within Pictish standing stones. This has created an evolving complex narrative that is bound up with my own identity. All of these themes hold their own emotional content and offer a glimpse into the unknown with each object discovered having its own personal mystery and story to tell.



The collection is fully hand-printed emphasising crafted painterly processes that encapsulate individuality and a characterful nature. I explore deconstructive and reconstructive printing processes along with hand painting onto a variety of natural fibre, deadstock fabric and vintage materials.



This gender-neutral collection hints at 19th-century Edwardian fashions taking direction from garments my relatives used to wear and how these elements change throughout their timeline, along with a modern twist on traditional Celtic clothing such as blanket wraps and family tartans and duster coats. This creates a sense of movement for the prints and uses inclusive shapes to give a contemporary feel. These statement keepsakes are made for a passionate individual community of people who are connected with nature, life’s personal storytelling and who welcome its wildness, spontaneity and detail.



Each unique visual piece has been built upon my own self-reflective journey that celebrates my rich Scottish history and the powerful natures of the highlands. I hope Nature’s Highlander prompts others to reflect, discover and appreciate their own connection to heritage.