Meet the florist: Tanya Shaw

JULY 2023

Brrr, winter is really here, isn’t it?! To help brighten these cool July days, this month we put the spotlight on the colourful yet subtle and dreamy work of Tanya Shaw, founder of Byron Bay floral design studio Oh Flora.

Tanya is a talented florist, event designer and wedding planner who creates gorgeous floral arrangements and installations for milestone celebrations all over Australia and around the globe. She is also an educator with a commitment to sharing her knowledge of floral design and sustainability with other flower lovers, and the founder of Oh Flora Store which sells ethically made ceramics suitable for floral design or the home.

An interesting aspect of Tanya’s work is that when designing for significant occasions, such as weddings, she often takes inspiration from the event’s location. Her work may respond to the local architecture, the area’s textiles or the general surroundings. The local food and seasonal flowers, as well as the couple at the centre of the celebration, also play significant parts in Tanya’s creative process. In this way, she creates memorable and personal installations.

I love Tanya’s floaty, airy and romantic creations. She is fantastic at using foliage and small flowers to create layers of texture, and while her work is expertly designed, she always manages to retain an appealing natural look to her arrangements. I also love that Tanya has a strong focus on sustainability, choosing to avoid the use of foam, championing the use of alternative floral design materials and techniques, and ensuring all her packaging is 100% plastic-free and recyclable.

Our flower for July is Tanya’s favourite: the sweet pea. Here’s what Tanya had to say when I interviewed her for our 2023 Planner.

1. Which flower inspires you the most and why?

One of my absolute favourites is sweet pea. It comes in the most beautiful shades and has the most unique, romantic shape and scent.

2. Can you share any fun facts about sweet peas?

Group different shades of the same hue in a mix of simple glassware or ceramic vases for a timeless and nostalgic display.  I also love to use sweet peas instead of greenery as a base for other flowers in a large arrangement.

3. Do you have any tips when styling sweet peas?

Sweet peas work well with almost any other spring flower, especially anything tall with a round face, such as cosmos, poppies or ranunculus.

You can find Tanya’s website here and follow her on insta here.

Shannon x

SHOP THE sweet pea bouquet COLLECTION