Artist Statement

Catherine Oxley is a Canadian artist whose practice centers on life-like paper botanicals. Working through her studio, BOUQ Paper Flowers, she hand-cuts, sculpts, tints, dyes, and washes fine European crepe paper to create flowers with a remarkably natural and organic appearance.  For Oxley, botanical realism is not simply a matter of resemblance, but of sustained observation: "The completed work is a direct reflection of the quietness of mind and power of observation."

Her sensitivity to gesture, atmosphere, and the telling detail has been sharpened through more than two decades in film and television. Under the stage name Catherine Burdon, she has appeared in productions including The Brink of War, Molly’s Game and Breach; that cinematic experience informs the way she composes flowers as living presences, held in a moment of stillness.

Oxley's botanical work has appeared in campaigns and editorials for Veranda Magazine, La Botanica (New York | Milan), and Food and Drink Magazine, and Canada’s number one morning show “Cityline”.

Beyond her own creations, Catherine is passionate about sharing her techniques and inspiring others through teaching. She has established a global community through her online school, where more than 2,000 students have learned from her ever-expanding library of tutorials. Catherine welcomes students at all skill levels for in-person workshops, especially enjoying guiding beginners and watching their creative transformations as they develop confidence and discover the joy of paper flower art.