Nature as Muse: How the Natural World Influences My Designs

Images collected on local walks provide endless inspiration

I’m very fortunate to live on the Devon/Cornwall border, where my studio sits in the back garden. When I look at the landscape around me, I see more than countryside - I see an endless resource of living patterns, colours, and textures waiting to be translated into a project. Nature-inspired design is not just a backdrop; it’s a source of ever-changing inspiration and a mentor in creativity.

The Art of Seeing

For me, design often begins with observing detail, particularly pattern. The delicate veins of a leaf, the rhythmic ripples of water, the rugged texture of tree bark - these elements can spark ideas that evolve into forms and surfaces in my work. Sometimes, I’ll abstract these, simplifying them into shapes and motifs that feel organic yet refined. This approach reflects biophilic design principles, bringing the calming influence of nature into everyday objects.

Washed oak leaves from the garden

Texture: A Tactile Connection

Autumn is a particularly good time of year for natural textures. Octobers’ falling leaves have a more leathery feel than new spring growth, making them ideal for imprinting into polymer clay designs. This is where design meets experience - I know some projects need making now and won’t wait until the leaves become even drier and more brittle. I love incorporating tactile qualities into my work - sometimes through actual natural materials, other times by mimicking their essence. That connection to touch makes a design feel alive and invites interaction.

A Time for Texture

So, I’ve spent time over the last few weeks in the studio, working on a collection of oak leaf-inspired shawl pins. Each one is unique and carries its own unique texture and silhouette. After preparing the polymer clay, I created a crisp imprint of each chosen leaf, focussing on the veins and outer edges in particular. I cut each leaf out using the original as a template, then built smaller leaves to form the ‘head’ of each pin. I coloured them with mica powders to achieve an iridescent, cohesive look. Once cured, I added gold or bronze tone paint to highlight the vein structure. The pins were embedded into the smaller leaves, and I backed everything with neutral clay to add strength and durability, before baking again. I hope I’ve achieved a collection that feels rooted in nature-inspired design yet refined and elegant for everyday wear.

Finished oak leaf pin collection

Lessons from Nature

Nature teaches more than aesthetics—it teaches balance, resilience, and sustainability. Every ecosystem thrives on harmony, and I strive to reflect that in my designs through proportion, rhythm, and careful colour choices. In a world often dominated by speed and technology, eco-friendly design trends can offer calm and authenticity. Bringing these qualities into design creates pieces that nurture well-being and spark creativity. Nature is more than inspiration—it’s a guide. It shapes how I think about form, texture, proportion and balance, and reminds me to keep design grounded in simplicity and authenticity. Every piece I create reflects that quiet dialogue with the natural world.