When you listen, nature has a story to tell. Cotswold-based illustrator and gardener Millie Sandy listens more closely than most to what nature has to say. Her artistic work is heavily influenced by the plants she grows and the changing moods of the shifting seasons. “I worked in a family-owned greengrocer, where I created these texturally rich and colourful veg boxes which felt like an extension of my creative practice,” she recalls. “I was showcasing care and consideration in the form of locally grown produce, whilst doing the same through storytelling and craftsmanship”.
“I’m always looking for more ways to bring positivity into the world via print, the same way a perfectly ripe plum does.”
For Millie, art and growing vegetables are deeply intertwined, each nourishing the other. “I spent time working with social enterprises that provide accessible, organic food. By night, I’d create designs for fashion companies all over the globe. I still do this now; growing organic fruit and vegetables in the Cotswolds whilst the sun is shining - occasionally - and after scrubbing the mud from under my nails, delving into the world of print and colour having spent the day surrounded by inspiration. I’m always looking for more ways to bring positivity into the world via print, the same way a perfectly ripe plum does,” she says.
“I have a responsibility to give a voice to our fragile ecosystems that we often forget we’re a part of.”
There are lessons too, Millie says, that can be learnt from nature. She draws parallels between the process of creating an illustration and seasonal rhythms. “Growing a plant and developing a creative idea is all about understanding the stages you go through before that final design or ripened vine of tomatoes. You’re constantly problem-solving, reacting to external influences, and learning from mistakes. The stability of the seasons provides a tangible route for the year ahead, and it’s this ‘trust the process’ mentality I have learnt to apply to creativity.”
Art inspired by nature is a chance to tell its story. To those listening, the story nature has been telling in recent years has been clear. The global climate and biodiversity crisis is putting extreme pressure on ecosystems. Millie considers her responsibility as an artist and grower to tell this story. “As an illustrator, I have a responsibility to shed light onto subjects and stories through the accessible medium of imagery and give a voice to our fragile ecosystems that we often forget we’re a part of.”
For the Rapanui x Millie Sandy collaboration, Millie created designs that inspire a close connection with nature, calling on us to listen to the stories it might tell. “With everything I do, I aim to spark intrigue. For this collaboration, I wanted to evoke a sense of simplicity which surrounds the seasons, especially autumn. Despite shorter days, there is a time for stillness in the slower months that should be cherished. Whether something from the collection encourages you to forage on your daily walk, stop and listen to the sound of the wind or watch the leaves turn from green to red – its these simple things that ground us.”
Sew The Slow Long Sleeve T-Shirt
The collaboration celebrates people as part of the natural ecosystem on which we all depend.
“I hope people view this collaboration as a reminder to pause and place themselves within this natural world and see the joy in its role in our every day,” she says.
