Q&A with Ruth Davis, Artist Behind “Eden, in an Eggshell”

I’m Ruth, founder of All For Love London. I’m a florist and artist, so I knew I wanted to incorporate real flowers into my design. The challenge, of course, was finding a way to use fresh flowers in a piece that needs to last – both for the trail and for auction afterwards. Pressing them and sealing them in resin felt like the perfect solution. It turned them into something long-lasting, like a giant, protective paperweight where they can now live happily forever, in a way that really preserves their natural beauty.

How did you choose which flowers to include?
There’s a whole mix – mostly spring flowers – but the process was definitely trial and error! I had to focus on what would press well and stay relatively flat. Some flowers, like roses and sunflowers, were just too chunky. But delphiniums, hydrangeas, pansies, and other colourful, delicate flowers worked beautifully. It became a bit of an experiment to see what we could include within the 3mm depth required for the resin to set properly.

Do you know how many flowers you used in total? And how long did the process take?
Hundreds! Especially the tiny ones. I didn’t count exactly, but there are so many delicate details packed in.

Coming up with the idea was probably the hardest part – working out how to use real flowers without them wilting or decaying. Once I had the concept, the process of squirreling away flowers, pressing and prepping them was probably the longest part of the process. Actually placing the flowers, testing adhesives that wouldn’t react with the resin, and then casting and polishing the final resin mould took around two to three weeks. So in terms of making time, I’d say about a month – but the design and development? That took closer to a year.

Do any of the flowers have symbolic meaning, or was it more about what worked practically?

Honestly, it was mostly about what worked! I had to focus on what could be pressed flat enough and still look beautiful once set in resin. But it’s definitely given me some ideas. If I had the chance to do it again – and I’d love to – I think there’s something really special about using the language of flowers to tell a story. It’s actually given me ideas for how I could create whole collection along the same line.

We love the name All For Love – where does it come from?
It’s actually the name of my favourite rose – a gorgeous fuchsia pink. When I started the business, it felt perfect. We do a lot of weddings, and everything felt like it was “for love”. It just stuck, and now All For Love London has been going for 11 years. We create large-scale floral installations all over the world, all with fresh flowers, and our roots are very much in creating beautiful, love-filled moments.

What do you love most about your work as a florist?
Definitely the reactions. We go into a blank space and turn it into something really magical. Watching people see it for the first time – especially at weddings – is always emotional. It’s about taking someone’s vision and bringing it to life in a way they’ll remember forever – that never gets old. I’m always the first to cry!

Is this your first time being part of The Big Egg Hunt?
It is! I’ve worked with Elephant Family for over 10 years on different projects, like their amazing elephant sculptures. But I remember seeing the original Egg Hunt years ago when I first moved to London, just starting out in floristry. So it feels really special to now be a part of it myself.

What is the one thing you want people to take away from this?
I think that you can take the most fragile, tiny living thing and protect it, make it last forever if you try hard enough!

You can find Ruth’s egg, Eden, in an Eggshell, in the peaceful gardens of St Marylebone Parish Church – part of the Marylebone trail for this year’s Big Egg Hunt. Don’t forget to tag us when you spot it!