At times, I can be erratic – but I am also highly strategic, organised, intelligent, and creative. I bring ingenuity and a strong sense of personality to my work, and that’s exactly what I’ve tried to capture in this portfolio.

The opening image is bold and expressive, with strong colours and harsh charcoal edges. It’s intentionally raw. Around its border are plant names, which is a subtle nod to my broader knowledge of horticulture and landscape. This contrast between boldness and detail reflects how I work: instinctive yet considered, creative but informed.

I chose to begin with this piece because it sets the tone for what follows, a series of works I’ve created and am learning to be proud of. Sharing them isn’t easy; exposing your creative output to critique can be uncomfortable. But I see this portfolio as a turning point: a chance to acknowledge the challenges I’ve faced during this course, and to recognise what I’ve achieved despite them.

This is more than a collection of drawings and designs. It’s hopefully a reflection of how I think, how I work, and how I’ve grown: creatively, personally, and professionally.

I’ve reworked original drawings to better reflect my abilities, both technically and creatively. I’ve also paid close attention to page composition, using visual principles such as the Fibonacci spiral, the golden triangle, and the golden rectangle to guide layout decisions. For example, here, I’ve mirrored the text on the left with a concept sketch on the right, framing a central image in a way that feels balanced and deliberate, without (in my opinion) overwhelming the content.

Throughout the portfolio, I’ve alternated between hand drawings, detailed renders, and AutoCAD work, intentionally not only to demonstrate a range of skills, but also to break up the intensity of more complex visuals and give the reader’s eye space to rest. This variation in medium helps to create rhythm throughout the portfolio and keeps the overall experience engaging.

In my annotations, I’ve aimed to be clear and purposeful, trying to explain what I’ve done, why I’ve done it, and what skills each piece demonstrates. My goal was to make the work accessible and informative, while still letting the visuals speak for themselves.

Above the page numbers throughout this portfolio, I’ve included a small flip-book-style image sequence. As you turn the pages, the image evolves, beginning with a seed being planted and gradually growing into a full tree by the end.

This serves as a quiet metaphor for my own development during the course, with me growing in confidence, skill, and identity as a future landscape architect. It’s also a small nod to my sense of humour and personality: a playful, comical touch that I hope brings a bit of lightness to the portfolio without distracting from the work.

While subtle, this evolving image is something I’m proud of. It represents the journey I’ve been on and the idea that growth (whether in plants, people, or creative practice) takes time, effort, and care.