Artist and designer Mandy Ng has always been a multi-talented creative.

So when lockdown restrictions put a temporary stop to the children’s art club she had been running in 2020, she resisted the urge to panic and instead took the opportunity to try out something new.

Mandy launched her new business Flowers and Pots in November last year, from her home studio in Sale.

“I have a creative background, I wanted to keep my hand in that,” says Mandy, who is originally from St Helens. “Arranging flowers was something that I have always wanted to try.”

Mandy, who has previously worked as a surface designer and an artist, in addition to running her own greetings card company, taught herself how to create beautiful hand-tied bouquets for different occasions.

She also began to sell hand-painted pots, which is something she had worked on with the children in her workshops but had never explored commercially.

“I like to try different things and challenge myself creatively,” says Mandy, explaining that she took quickly to floristry. “It came quite easily - the more I did them, the more I was comfortable with it.”

Mandy sources her flowers from local markets in and around Manchester.

She also regularly supplements bouquets with greenery from her own garden, weaving leaves and foliage that she has grown herself into her designs.

Her bouquets are bold and colourful, with an emphasis on British blooms such as roses and gerberas. She hand-ties the bunches using striking coloured wrapping materials.

They have proved popular in the local community, and she was inundated with orders for Mother’s Day.

“I just enjoy it,” says Mandy. “I make big, bright bouquets. They are quite stunning if you look at them - they’re very eye-catching.”

Her hand-painted terracotta pots are inspired by her work as an artist and designer, incorporating lots of varied colour and texture with striking designs.

Mandy mainly delivers her flowers in the Trafford area, and plans to keep it that way.

“I enjoy selling to local people,” she says. “I really want to keep it local, as I’m a one-woman band. I personally go out and deliver the orders.”

With lockdown restrictions easing, Mandy is looking forward to recommencing her children’s art classes, and hopes to be able to balance the work around Flowers & Pots orders.

For more information, see www.facebook.com/flowerspots8/