You should never give up on your dreams
Recorded 6 months ago
About this recording
Amanda Coghill, a creative florist from Wick (now living in Lybster), describes her journey in floristry from childhood to professional competition.
She began with flower arranging as a child, entering competitions at the Latheron and Caithness County Shows, then worked from the age of 13 as a Saturday girl at ‘Four Seasons’ in Wick, learning shop routines and basic traditional floristry techniques.
On leaving school Amanda studied floristry at Edinburgh Telford College, initially struggling with being away from home but soon thrived and developed her own creative style. On completing her studies, she worked as a florist in Wick and Bonnyrigg before opening Amanda’s Creative Florist in June 2006, in Dempster Street, Wick. She focused on combining traditional work with more modern, unusual designs, and achieved success over the years.
In 2010, due to travel disruption from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, she volunteered to help at the Fusion Flowers magazine annual photoshoot in Kippen. Although her work wasn’t used that year, it led to repeated invitations to return and learn from leading designers, plus entry into an international competition where she was awarded a bronze medal.
Amanda goes on to describe her experiences competing at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London.
In 2011 Amanda qualified via a Glasgow heat; faced major logistics travelling from the far north of Scotland; but went on to win a silver medal.
In 2013 she competed again (while injured), created a themed “never-ending circle” design, and won another silver medal.
In 2015 Amanda created an Alice in Wonderland–inspired tree. On this occasion she received the “no medal” letter (missing bronze by one mark), which she describes as devastating. Throughout the interview Amanda describes the friendships she has made throughout her career, so on this occasion she helped celebrate the success of her friends.
While pregnant in 2016, Amanda once again qualified to participate in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and created a Brazilian carnival headdress. On this occasion she won a gold medal, sharing the moment with close friends.
Amanda explains how she took part in the British Florist Association Award in 2017. At the gala dinner awards that evening, she was announced as the overall winner.
Since the birth of her son, she has dedicated her time to supporting him in his interests but at the age of nine years he reminded her, “You should never give up on your dreams Mum.”
Amanda looks forward to returning to Chelsea and being on the big flower stage once again.
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