In Conversation with Chloë - Susannah Taylor

As a respected beauty and wellness editor, Susannah Taylor has spent two decades exploring what it truly means to feel well; in body, mind, and soul. But beyond the expansive portfolio of incredible magazine & newspaper wellbeing features, Susannah is also an artist, quietly capturing moments of stillness, softness, and nature through her illustrations.

Her hand is behind some of the most beloved illustrations in Bramley’s botanical collections; from the whimsical charm of the Birdhouse and Little Bramley Cottage, the leafy calm of the Wellness Tent and Greenhouse, to the playful Digby and Little B families. Each one tells a story not just of identity, but of joy, balance and calm.

In this conversation, we talk about creativity as a form of self-care, what botanical magic really means, and how nature continues to inspire everything from her sketchbook to her sense of wellbeing.

Your illustrations have become such a signature part of the Bramley’ collections. The Birdhouse, Little Cottage, Wellness Tent, and Greenhouse. What inspired their look and feel?

Bramley’s home is in Somerset, and it was during a visit to the area that I met Chloe the founder. I got a real feel for the brand: the importance of botanicals, their value of nature, the environment and the beauty of the British countryside. I think I try to incorporate all these things in every illustration and when Chloe said she wanted to create a gift set in a cottage that looked like the one in the film ‘The Holiday’ I knew exactly what she meant! Wherever possible in my illustrations I squeeze in more flowers, more greenery and animals that will make people smile. I often think ‘If this animal had a personality who would they be!?'

I think of Bramley as a brand that makes us feel good. It’s positive, passionate about the environment and full of natural happiness. I wanted the illustrations to convey the same messages.

Did you approach the Digby and Little B collections differently, knowing they were for our four-legged friends and children?

With Little B, Chloe and I spoke about basing the illustrations around woodland animals so that children would love them. However each animal had to relate to the product in some way, so I came up a team of animals grooming themselves in the countryside! There’s a hedgehog taking a bath in a leaf for the Bubble Bath, a dormouse asleep amongst the daisies for the Sleep Spray and a duck taking a shower under a flower shower for the Hair and Body Wash. I think my favourite though has to be the Circus Tent gift set which is covered with animals who’ve run away to the circus! There are ducks walking the tightrope, a badger on a tricycle, a juggling hare and a squirrel throwing balls whilst balancing on a ball!

As for Digby, Chloe wanted a scruffy, characterful pup that got into trouble, likes digging and runs riot in the countryside. I therefore came up with an endearing hairy crossbreed who could do with a good old scrub. Each illustration is Digby doing something that will make you smile: he’s either got his fur flying in the wind out the car window for the Conditioner or lying on his back in his bed watching flies for the Refresh Spray. I’m also quite proud of the Digby Grooming Parlour, a gift set covered in all sorts of hilariously pampered pooches!

Nature seems to be at the heart of both your artwork and Bramley’s ethos. What role does the natural world play in your creative life?

Nature is everything to me – being surrounded by it, painting it, caring for it.  As I get older, I have felt a burning desire to get offline more and be in nature. This year I have decided to focus on my art - not just because I love doing it but because I want to get out of my screen and emails which was frying my brain. I am also drawn, like a moth to a flame to painting nature.  Our house is built around a courtyard and when we bought it, we looked out onto wall-to-wall gravel. Now, five years on it is an oasis of full of plants, birds, bees and butterflies.  It is my pride and joy and constant source of inspiration for my painting. Whereas once I bought handbags, I now buy plants to paint!

How does your artistic practice support your personal sense of wellness?

When I paint it’s almost like everything else drops away. It’s what people in the world of meditation would call ‘flow’. I’m not sure where I go to when I paint but I am away with the fairies for hours at a time.

I think creativity is a pillar of wellbeing that is vastly overlooked – we as human being are born to create so we need to do more of it. And we need to use our hands more. This is something I want to champion so I’m taking various art classes this year at - please check out www.susannahtaylor.com for more details.

I find a deep sense of connection and peace being in nature and being surrounding by nature’s beauty. There is a growing body of work called neuroaesthetics which is about the impact of beauty on our brains. Nature is the most neuroaesthetic environment there is which is why we feel such a deep sense of awe and wonder when we are amongst it. In the future I would love to use my art in the future as a force for good – to help protect the environment in some way.

What does ‘botanical magic’ mean to you as both an artist and someone who’s deeply immersed in the wellness space?

I think we cannot underestimate the powers of nature. We are surrounded by plants that nourish us, bring us so much joy and keep us alive. Without plants we wouldn’t be here 
Wellness-wise, as humans we come from nature, our ancestors lived in nature not concrete houses so it’s where we belong. This is why we feel such a deep sense of comfort in nature. It’s scientifically proven that if we walk through nature the phytoncides (the chemicals released by plants and trees to protect them) actually lower our stress levels and boost our immune system. And it’s all here, on earth available to us every day and yet we often overlook it. That is pure magic. 

As an aside from your art, what’s one small thing you do regularly that brings you joy and calm?

I meditate - years ago I learnt Vedic meditation with Jillian Lavender of the London Meditation Centre. It is the only type of meditation for me that I feel gets me to a place of complete peace. I also do breathwork and have been learning to teach it - I want to be able to teach people tools for managing stress in such a fraught and over digitalised world. We take up to 20,000 breaths a day, so imagine how that can impact our health if we aren’t breathing correctly.

If you could bottle one feeling, like Bramley bottles its botanical magic, what would it be?

It would also be a form of botanical magic. It would be the sense of connection and awe I feel with the world when I’m in nature, when the wind is rustling the leaves of our big oak tree, when the sun is coming up over the courtyard or the butterflies dive in and out of the flowers. I am often floored by the beauty of it all. It’s gives me a feeling of wonder and gratitude that I’d love to be able to spritz on myself when I’m om the tube in London!

What are you currently working on that we can look forward to next? 

I am very excited to be having my first exhibition called Flower Power at natural paint company Edward Bulmer in Pimlico from 8th – 20th September. The exhibition is all about the symbolism of flowers and each painting is almost like a botanical remedy. I am currently madly painting for that (follow by Instagram for updates).

I have also recently launched some botanical prints which are proving very popular (available on my website) which I will be adding to as well as selling original artwork and painting murals. I am also hosting some botanical painting workshops at Thyme and Soho Farmhouse in September (see Susannahtaylor.com for details) and am starting a weekly painting class.

One the wellness side of things I also have a newsletter called The Glow Gazette (sign up at Susannahtaylor.com) which is about beauty and wellbeing from the inside out. It’s packed full of expert tips for reconnecting with ourselves in this frazzled world and getting back to being more human. So, all in all, I’m keeping myself busy but never too busy to spend a few minutes in nature!

Explore our range of items beautifully illustrated by Susannah; The Bramley Village, Little B, and Digby. 

You have the chance to win an original piece of Susannah's artwork, and the entire Bramley Village (total prize worth over £1000!) , each set illustrated by Susannah. Head over to our Instagram to find out more and how to enter, here. This competition ends at midnight on 27th July. The winner will be announced on Monday 28th July and contacted via DM. 

www.susannahtaylor.com

Instagram: @susannahtaylor and @susannahtaylorstudio