My journey with flowers .
My story
My love affair with flowers began when I was just 12 years old. Competing in the local RHS show, I was thrilled to win the junior section of the floral art category—a moment that sparked my lifelong passion for floral design. Flowers remained a cherished hobby until 1999, when I launched Kirstin Coltman Floristry as a student florist, studying City & Guilds qualifications. The next year, I entered that same RHS show, and, to my delight, won every floral art class, a success that gave me the inspiration to open my first business, Blooms by the Sea.
Blooms by the Sea quickly grew into a successful retail florist, bringing joy to customers through beautifully crafted arrangements, bouquets, and sympathy flowers. From my shop, I supplied custom floral creations and expanded into wedding flowers, corporate displays, and social event decor. My wedding bouquets even found their way into several publications, and I was honored to create flowers for the late HM Queen Elizabeth. I also enjoyed designing flower and plant displays for television set designs, adding a unique touch to various productions.
Back in Bloom
Very sadly, after a decade, I closed the doors on Blooms by the Sea due to family commitments, choosing to focus on raising my young family. But as children grow up, they need you a little less—and I found myself naturally drawn back to the world of flowers. Since then, I've kept my hand in, taking on various roles within the floral industry and working as a freelance florist. I embraced a new role in wholesale flowers and plants, working with an amazing team at the flower market in Edinburgh. During this time, I continued my studies and achieved recognition as a SAFAS demonstrator, deepening my knowledge and skills. Now, I am excited to announce the relaunch of my shop online, where I will be selling directly from my new workshop in Musselburgh. I look forward to sharing my passion for floral design and creating beautiful arrangements for every occasion.
