Creative, passionate, and with an Anglo-Spanish soul, Sally Hambleton is one of the most renowned floral designers. After a brilliant career in the financial world, she decided to make a major life change and devote herself entirely to her true passion: flowers. Her firm, Sally Hambleton, has become a benchmark in contemporary floral art.
How would you describe your personal journey from your time in the financial sector to becoming a recognised floral designer?
“Busy, very busy! I never expected it to be this much, honestly. This is what happens when you don’t have a business plan and you throw yourself body and soul into a mission: learning everything necessary to offer in my city the kind of flowers I couldn’t find as a consumer. Neither the varieties nor the arrangements. Without considering the time and resources needed — of every kind: financial, human resources, physical and psychological strength, etc. — to reach safe harbour. It has been a learning process that never ends. And although it’s been exhausting, it has also been — and continues to be — very stimulating. And thanks to this experience I created Sally’s Flower School, which in 2026 will expand its offering from short monographic workshops to longer floral design courses aimed at saving many turns for future floral designers and entrepreneurs in the sector.”
What was your first inspiration in floral design?
“The nature and gardens of my childhood in the UK. I was lucky enough to spend many Easter and summer holidays at my family’s homes in the British countryside, and to enjoy their wonderful gardens. To this day, visiting gardens remains my favourite hobby.”
What does it mean for you to work with at least 50 % native (Spanish) flowers?
“A commitment that complicates things for me, but one I believe is a necessary effort I must make. I am fully convinced this is the path we all must follow so that our industry can reduce its huge negative impact on the planet’s sustainability. I know it may sound like a very cliché slogan, but it is scarcely talked about in Spain. Our sector is still largely unknown to the general public. Flowers remain a luxury product and few people ask certain questions — Where in the world were these roses grown? What growing methods were used? What chemicals do they contain? — about a product they buy maybe once or twice a year. That’s natural, which is why we professionals must speak about this matter, and slowly begin to take steps in a new direction.”
How does your mother inspire you day to day?
“My mother, at her 85 years, is a person with a formidable personality; we live very close to each other and spend a lot of time together. She is very intuitive, curious, independent and extremely hardworking. She doesn’t know laziness and is extraordinarily generous with her time, especially in helping others. I like how she corrects me when I use too many flowers and too little greenery — she likes greenery a lot, for example. I learn from her her taste for well-done work, whether it is a piece of silverware from her antiques shop — she loves showing me her discoveries, like what year a silver piece was minted, for example — or a knitting project she might be working on. And her love for colour and floral prints. From her comes everything SH.”
What is your favourite hotel?
“In Spain, Finca La Donaira.
In the UK, any of The Pig Hotels small chain.”
What place in the world would you like to travel with your friulanes on?
“Egypt, this Christmas. I really feel like doing a small-cruise on the Nile.”
With which flower would you design your Cayumas?
“With dahlias. When are we launching the collaboration? ;-)”
