A FORMER Thornbury student and florist is set to see her artwork on the screen after co-writing a children’s cartoon series. 


Florist Lorna Page exhibited some of her artwork in Oldbury-on-Severn last year, and caught the attention of Wallace and Gromit writer Bob Baker.


Mrs Page, 44, worked with the writer to develop her drawings and the pair are now preparing to release six books and 52 episodes of a children’s animated series together, titled ‘Flora’s World.’


The former Castle School student, who worked as a Saturday girl in the town in her younger years, said she had little time to indulge in her passion of drawing after getting married to Phil, 45, and having two sons, Harry, 17 and Archie 14.


“My father died suddenly when I was in my early thirties and I had this immediate urge to paint and draw again – it was great therapy,” she said.


“I haven’t stopped since. I am a florist, a maker, an artist, and illustrator - to be honest I am pretty addicted to all forms of art and craft, it is so inspiring.” 


“The actual idea for Flora arrived when I was working (and still am) for my sister Maria, who has a wedding and event floristry business.


“It was on one of my shifts, I was making up wedding flowers and I had a spark of inspiration to illustrate stories about a florist, stories about our funny tales we have gathered going about our day to day business running around with flowers.” 


She took pen to paper and while helping with a pop up art gallery for a local fun run in Oldbury-on-Severn, Bob Baker joined the project of Flora’s World.


“Bob popped in for a coffee to discuss the art display I was helping with and I happened to mention Flora,” Mrs Page added.


“He asked to have a look at the illustration, so Flora came out of the drawer she had been hiding in.


“We kept it quite for a while and low key as we were and are still, at the early stages. We’ve made small snippets so far but it’s too expensive to get started doing episodes.


“Our plan is to release some books soon of stories we have written together first – we’ve already written six, which will hopefully be ready for early next year.


“Our little corner of South Gloucestershire may be a little overlooked but it is a beautiful part of the countryside. Flora contains the great humour that we Brits do best, a kind of Vicar of Dibley for kids."


The series is based on the character of Flora - a young florist who has her own shop in the high street of a small market town with constant companions, her Jack Russell dog ‘Eb’ and her cat called Purr. 


Mr Baker said: “When I first saw Lorna’s art work, I thought it was fantastic, and I thought it would be a great idea to work together.

"We’re in the process of getting funds to make the first episode now – I am really excited to get it started, and think it’s going to be a wonderful series.”