Yvonne Coomber is a contemporary artist based in Devon who specialises in a unique style of wildflower glitter paintings. galsocial supported Yvonne’s 2019 digital marketing overhaul, devising a social media strategy for implementation on Instagram and Facebook and writing copy for Yvonne’s social media, monthly blog posts, and newsletters.
Imbolc: A Year’s Awakening
“Imbolc marks the midpoint of winter and traditionally begins at sundown February 1st through to sundown February 2nd. In the Christian calendar, it is known as candlemas, a time when candles are lit for the Virgin Mary. However, I prefer to embrace the Celtic interpretation of this seasonal festival as it feels embedded in my Irish roots and lies closer to my heart. This lesser-known ancient festival celebrates Brigid, the fire goddess of fertility, growth and birth. It welcomes the returning light and the first stirrings of life after the still silence of winter.
With the start of a new year not far behind and the start of a new season not far ahead, I have been reflecting on the effortless beauty and wisdom of nature’s cycles and how we can honour her rhythms in our lives. As we witness the smallest trembles of movement above the surface, there are also deep, hidden stirrings in the dark earth below. This mirrors the beginnings of new hopes and dreams that are forming into manifestations in my own life. It’s such an exciting time of year for me!”
4 Ways We Can Spread Love This Valentine’s Day
“Valentine’s Day is always a special time of year for me. The middle of February has been a time for celebrating romance, marriage and love for thousands of years. Our modern day festivities probably had their roots in the Roman pastoral and fertility festival Lupercalia, but it’s travelled down to us today as a simple time to appreciate the love and romance in our lives. Flowers have naturally become a traditional symbol of Valentine’s Day for centuries, which is one of the reasons why I love this season so much!
Personally, I am so grateful for all the love I have in my life. My wildflower paintings are always full of my expressions of love and hope, so working at this time of year is such a joy. Love’s many facets can be glimpsed in my paintings. The interpretation is open to the viewer, but the strength of the underlying emotion is universal. Some people see love for a partner, others for a parent, others for a friend. The titles of my recent artworks speak to the many different ways we can love others and also the ways we can love ourselves. The most important message at the heart of my work is that the world needs love. This Valentine’s Day, I want to embrace the many facets of love around me and the many places it can come from in our lives.”
Save Our Wildflowers: Plantlife Interviews Yvonne Coomber
“Spring is fully in the air when we catch up with Yvonne Coomber to discuss her conservation work with Plantlife and other charities. A keen ambassador for the protection of wildflowers, the conservation of our delicate ecosystems in the UK is central to Yvonne’s practice and shines through in her work. In this interview, she tells us all about why this cause is so important to her, how she’s supporting conservation charities through her work, and what she’s looking forward to in the future.”
