CLAIRE SIRKETT

LANCASHIRE

A BIT ABOUT ME

I have a keen interest in floral designs. I love both traditional and contemporary flower arranging techniques, observe emerging trends, taking my inspiration from international and historical designs. I love to visit national flower shows when I can and also have competed and displayed my work in flower festivals. Since moving from Southend-on-Sea, Essex to Burnley in 2018, I have joined a few social groups including a gym, a choir, a conservation group ' Trees for Burnley' and a women's walking group. I also belong to Burnley Flower Club, where I help out on their committee and when I'm not creating floral designs, I sing soprano in my local choir. I volunteer with 'Trees for Burnley' and enjoy keeping fit doing exercise classes including yoga and walking my dog in the beautiful parks and countryside.

My favourite flower… Peony

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

I began with achieving level 1 and then level 2 NCFE in floral craft and completed a few other contemporary floral design non-accredited courses at adult education centres. I later achieved professional qualifications at Writtle College in Chelmsford. I hold a City & Guilds certificates in professional floristry, C&G level 2 certificate in Interior Floral Decoration. Advanced level 3 certificate in professional floristry and a level 4 Higher National Diploma in Floristry. I am also a qualified NFAS Area Demonstrator.

My interest and fascination with flowers goes back to my early years when I lived in Adelaide, Australia as a child and admired the exotic species of plants there, especially the Jacaranda trees in full blossom. At aged 15 I completed a Trident project 3 week work experience project in a florist in Hadleigh, Essex. I have volunteered and worked in various flower shops during and after pursuing my floristry qualifications. In the early 2000s I joined Leigh-on-Sea Floral Art Club, a NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arrangements Society) affiliated group. I became a committee member with them. I completed a floral demonstrator course and qualified as a Area Demonstrator in 2012 and put on shows at flower clubs in the Home Counties, Eastern and London & Overseas Areas of NAFAS in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and London Boroughs. Since relocating to Burnley, I've been working as a florist. I was employed full-time at Poppy's in Sowerby Bridge and Mary's Florist in Halifax for more than a year, then moved on to work for Katie Rose in Whalley, Lancashire, where I currently work on a self-employed basis. This is currently part-time as the hours have been greatly reduced due to the Covid19 crisis. I am looking to continue freelance work as this could offer me further opportunities, creative flexibility and more work hours.

LEVEL:

Intermediate - 18 years in floristry on and off.