A spectacular series of faux floral arrangements created by Leeds-based floral artist, Anice Neville, founder of Opulence and The Beetle, have been selected to feature in a new ‘Botanically Beautiful’ exhibition at Lotherton Hall, which has launched this month.
Known for her dramatic, art-led approach to artificial floristry, Neville has curated a number of bespoke installations for the exhibition that celebrate the historic relationship between flowers, design and decorative arts. Her work will sit alongside pieces from the Lotherton collections, as well as objects from Temple Newsham and Leeds Art Gallery, bringing a contemporary sculptural interpretation to historical botanical traditions.
At the heart of Neville’s contribution is a striking Edwardian-inspired arrangement created exclusively using flowers known to have been grown by Gwendolen Gascoigne
at Lotherton Hall during the Edwardian period. The piece has been carefully designed for a stunning antique ginger jar and draws inspiration from the book ‘Flower Decoration in the House’ by influential garden designer, Gertrude Jekyll.
In keeping with Jekyll’s naturalistic style, the arrangement embraces movement, texture and subtle colour harmonies, echoing the relaxed yet painterly aesthetic that defined Edwardian floral design. The use of historically accurate blooms also reflects Neville’s research-led approach to floristry, which often combines art history, horticulture and decorative heritage.
A second installation has been created for a rare antique Dutch tulip vase, a striking multi-spouted vessel traditionally used to display individual tulips during the height of tulip mania in the Netherlands. Neville’s arrangement reimagines this historic format with a sculptural composition that allows each bloom to stand independently while forming a dramatic overall display. The design captures the hierarchy of tulips during the Baroque period, with a white and red ‘flamed’ tulip echoing the coveted ‘Semper Augustus’ at the top of the hierarchy and a yellow and red ‘flamed’ tulip representing ‘bizarres’ at the bottom.
Neville launched Opulence and The Beetle in 2025 after leaving a successful corporate career in financial services to pursue her lifelong passion for floristry and design.Her designs are known for their wild, romantic aesthetic and intentionally informal arrangements, challenging traditional perceptions of faux florals by transforming them into enduring works of art rather than temporary decorations.
Speaking about the commission, Anice said: “Working with Caroline Newton, curator of the Botanically Beautiful exhibition, and Lotherton Hall’s collections has been an incredible opportunity to explore the stories that flowers can tell. I was particularly drawn to the Edwardian history of the gardens and the influence of Gertrude Jekyll’s planting style on Lady Gascoigne. Deciphering hand written plant labels presented its own challenges, particularly as some plants grown in Lotherton have changed names since the Edwardian period.
“The challenge was to create arrangements that felt historically rooted but also sculptural and expressive to please the tastes of today’s visitors. Faux florals allow you to bring together blooms that wouldn’t naturally appear at the same time of year, which makes it possible to create compositions that feel both authentic and artistically imaginative.”
Since launching, Neville has rapidly built a reputation for high-profile installations and commissions across historic venues, hospitality spaces and cultural sites, including Lotherton Hall, Raby Castle, Fountains Hall at Fountains Abbey and Gray’s Court Hotel in York.
Caroline Newton, assistant curator at Lotherton, said: “This exhibition has given us a wonderful chance to showcase some beautiful creations by talented artists and designers throughout history.
“It’s also been a privilege to work with talented contemporary creatives like Anice, to showcase their work and together bring this stunning exhibition to life in such spectacular fashion.”
The Botanically Beautiful exhibition is now open at Lotherton Hall, where visitors can explore beautiful and remarkable objects all inspired by flowers, fruit, leaves and trees. Items on display include original William Morris wallpapers from the Sanderson Archive, glorious ceramics and silver, intricate Spitalfields silks and innovative furniture by Voysey and Pugin.
