THE FLOWER BEHIND THE COLLECTION
Extraordinary by nature
Sturt’s Desert Pea, Swainsona formosa, is one of Australia’s most remarkable wildflowers. Emerging across arid country after rain, its brilliant scarlet blooms rise above silvery foliage, each with that distinctive dark centre and wonderfully unusual sculptural form. It seems almost improbable that something so dramatically beautiful could flourish in such a harsh landscape.
That contrast between fragility and resilience, and the sheer theatrical beauty of the flower itself, made it an irresistible subject for Meryl. Her painting revels in its curves, colour and extraordinary detail, giving this singular Australian bloom all the attention it deserves.
