A Floral Art Society Looks Ahead

Floral Art Society of Pakistan came into being five decades ago teaching and training floral designers of Pakistan. The members of the six chapters in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar have competed in international and national shows having won prizes locally and internationally, promoting the talent and softer image of Pakistan to the world.  The Society consists of designers, demonstrators, teachers as well as judges.

To further improve the skills of the designers, the judges training programme has been held twice in the past, conducted by adjudicators from United Kingdom. This year, Gardenia Chapter, Karachi under the leadership of President Sabra Tufail, took the opportunity to conduct the third ‘Judges Training Programme’.

This Programme was conducted by Michael Bowyer MBE, international judge, teacher and demonstrator along with Deborah Wadge from the United Kingdom. Eight senior Area Judges from Pakistan participated in the Refreshers Day Programme. Fourteen members from six chapters attended the Judges Training Programme and passed with flying colours.

A certificate awarding ceremony was held at a local hotel recently and was attended by Presidents of Allied clubs as well as guests. A demonstration was held where all participants of the Training Programme included a piece of plant material in a large floral exhibit, thereby endorsing the unity and affection between the Chapters of Floral Art Society of Pakistan. The huge and eye catching floral design on the stage was designed by Shahimah Sayeed and Sabra Tufail.

Michael Bowyer: A Floral Art Journey  

Michael Bowyer, a distinguished floral art judge, recently visited Pakistan to train and certify new judges for the country’s thriving flower clubs. With a lifelong passion for floral arrangements, his journey began as a child, picking wildflowers and placing them in jam jars—a simple yet profound start that laid the foundation for his illustrious career.

“I started flower arranging as a child, where my parents encouraged me to pick wildflowers and put them into a jam jar,” Michael shared. “As I grew older, I joined a flower club, which led me to become a qualified demonstrator, judge, speaker and teacher.”

Michael’s expertise extends beyond judging competitions. He actively trains and certifies individuals to become judges, demonstrators and teachers, conducting examinations and refresher courses across the UK and internationally. His work has taken him to various parts of the world, including Barbados, and now Pakistan, where he has played a pivotal role in strengthening the floral art community.

On his recent visit to Karachi, Michael trained 14 aspiring floral art judges from Pakistan’s six flower clubs, located in Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. This wasn’t his first visit; 15 years ago he conducted a similar training session in Karachi, and this time, he held a refresher course also for previously certified judges.

“The trainees have worked incredibly hard and performed exceptionally well in their exams,” he remarked, expressing his appreciation for their dedication and growth.

With a wealth of experience spanning across continents, Michael continues to elevate the standards of floral art judging, leaving a lasting impact on the global floral community.