This painting captures that feeling of relief being out in nature. The hills are inspired by the landscape between my home town Hamilton on the way out to Raglan. A road I’ve driven so many times. The flowers don’t naturally grow there but are a composite from my childhood memories of my maternal grandmother’s flower garden. I grew up in the house next to my grandparents and one of my most vivid memories of Nanna is gardening together. She wielded large old-fashioned sheers, trimming the garden grass edge with ease. My small hands couldn’t even get them to close. So this is a painting of nostalgia and longing for the simplicity of childhood through remembered imagery.