Joe is a photographer and visual artist who finds beauty in everyday moments. A graduate of Chelsea School of Art, Joe grew up in Yorkshire, UK surrounded by creativity. Their grandfather was a wartime photographer and printmaker, while their mother nurtured a love of flowers and encouraged them to see the world from a different perspective.

During a challenging period of anxiety and depression, especially throughout lockdown, Joe turned to nature for comfort. They began collecting wildflowers on daily walks and freezing them in blocks of ice, capturing their gradual transformation in a project called Flower Blocks. This practice became both a personal ritual and a way to bring meaning to a difficult time.

Joe’s process is simple yet deeply personal. Each flower is carefully selected, arranged and frozen, then photographed as the ice melts. Through this, they preserve something fleeting and give it new life, celebrating the fragile beauty of nature and its quiet strength.

Hey Joe, thanks for joining us! What have you been up to lately? How’s summer treating you so far?

I’ve been great, thank you. It's been a peaceful summer so far. I’ve spent a lot of time in my garden since it’s my first summer (I moved in late last year), and I’m really enjoying watching what’s growing and changing each day.

Do the seasons affect what you make or how you feel about making? Summer seems like such a wild time for flowers. Does it change your pace or palette?

Because I work with real flowers, I have to follow the seasons. My creations are a celebration of that, a reflection of each time of year. The pace in summer is much faster, as you’d expect, and I go along with it. Then, when winter comes, I almost hibernate. I slow down, focus on personal projects, and prepare for the next year.

Your work is incredibly sensory, like you can almost feel the fuzz of a petal or the cold of the ice through the screen. Do you think your sensitivity to textures and small details spills into the way you experience daily life too?

Yes, 100%! I spend my days noticing all the little details around me. I keep a notebook with me at all times, just in case inspiration strikes.

We can feel this quiet tension in your work between control and spontaneity - between arranging and letting things be. Where do you sit in that push-pull? Are you someone who overthinks, or do you let the process lead you?

I approach my work with a free-spirited, go-with-the-flow attitude, allowing the natural beauty of the flowers to guide me. I use seasonal flowers to help create my color palettes.

I know your mom’s garden has been such a big part of your story. Are there other memories or places that have shaped how you see beauty?

My hometown of Knaresborough is very important to me. It’s a small place full of nature, and growing up surrounded by it and spending most of my time outdoors definitely shaped who I am today.

Do you notice a difference in your mood when you haven’t created anything for a while? Or do you find peace in other ways too?

When I go too long without creating, I feel a little restless. Making things grounds me.

What’s something you’ve learned about yourself through making this kind of work?

I’ve discovered a kind of patience I never had before. This work can’t be rushed, you even have to grow many of the elements before you can start creating.

Do you feel like the Joe who makes art and the Joe who goes grocery shopping are the same person? Or is there a shift that happens when you’re in ‘creator mode’?

No, the creator is always there. I can’t switch it off and I don’t see that as a bad thing. I love what I do. It’s not a job to me; an idea or project can appear at any moment.

When you’re not making art, where can we usually find you? What’s your idea of a perfect off-day?

A day in the garden with nothing to do sounds perfect.

What’s something that made you smile this week? Maybe something in your studio or home right now that brings you joy?

This sunflower in my garden.

And lastly… What are you dreaming of these days?

Honestly, just being able to make a living doing what I love is enough for me.

Joe’s List

Your favorite museum or bookstore:

South London Gallery

The last book you read:

Kara Swisher’s Burn Book

Your favorite moment in a typical day:

Morning sunrise

A flower you’ll never get tired of:

Nigellas

A color you’re drawn to lately:

Peach

A song that always puts you in a good mood:

Didn’t I by Daraondo

Your favorite app or account you follow on IG:

@c__l__o