Interview with Sophie Mess: Bringing Nature’s Calm to the Concrete Chaos

GraffitiStreet

Your murals have such a joyful, vibrant energy. What drew you to working with botanical themes in the first place?

Sophie Mess

I initially started painting these big, colourful, oversized flowers because they were fun to create and felt cheerful. Then, I began receiving a lot of positive feedback about how they were bringing joy to passersby and brightening up people’s commutes, which really inspired me to keep going. I also think there was some subconscious nostalgia at play. While I was living and painting in London, I’m originally from the countryside, and I grew up surrounded by flowers and plants because my parents were amazing gardeners. I believe there was an unconscious longing for that connection to nature

Sophie Mess ‘Fleurir’ 2023, Laon, France

GraffitiStreet

You started your artistic journey in London. What were those early experiences like, and how did they shape the artist you are today?

Sophie Mess

I first started painting commissioned murals for an artist collective called Graffiti Life, based in East London, about 10 years ago. Even commissioned murals back then were very different from how they are today. I primarily worked with artists from the graffiti scene, and we were based just off Brick Lane, right in the heart of the ever-changing street art scene. It was an invaluable learning experience that definitely shaped me into the artist I am today. I gained so much knowledge about the scene and developed the foundational skills that form the base of my practice. Eventually, I began painting more of my own style on the legal walls available around East London before deciding to focus entirely on pursuing my own creative journey.

Sophie Mess, The Stage London 2024

GraffitiStreet

Nature is clearly a deep inspiration for you. Do you have specific places, landscapes, or memories that consistently influence your work?

Sophie Mess

I’m always snapping photos of interesting flowers wherever I find them! It’s one of the fun aspects of traveling and painting murals, as I get to stumble upon new sources of inspiration along the way. Over the past few years, I’ve also started growing more flowers in my small garden, and that’s become another amazing source of inspiration for me.

Sophie Mess ‘Versions of me’ 2024, Le mans, France

GraffitiStreet

Your murals often feel like moments of stillness in busy urban spaces. How do you hope people feel when they come across one of your pieces on the street?

Sophie Mess

That is exactly what I hope people feel when they come across one of my murals- the calmness, joy, and awe that nature can bring, a sense of positivity, even if only momentarily.

Sophie Mess ‘A world of possibility’ 2024, Chiliwack Canada

GraffitiStreet

Can you walk us through your creative process, from taking photos on your travels to seeing the final piece come to life on a wall?

Sophie Mess

I’m always taking photos of flowers, building a large reference bank to draw from. Sometimes, I’ll also do specific photoshoots for particular projects. Murals are always site-specific, so I consider every aspect of the wall, its surface, location, and surroundings, to develop a concept that fits.

Sophie Mess “Street Art Icons”, Wynwood Walls Art Week 2024. Image Credit Nika Kramer

Once I have an idea of what I want the piece to communicate, I digitally create the artwork, using Photoshop to manipulate images and create compositions. After finalizing the design, I make a prep list of all the colors I’ll need for the mural. Then, I sketch the outlines onto the wall, usually using a doodle grid method. Once everything is in place and scaled properly, it’s all about colouring in with spray paint.

Sophie Mess’Breaking outta the box’2023, Belgium North West Walls

GraffitiStreet

Mental well-being and public space are closely tied in your work. How do you see art playing a role in helping people feel more grounded or connected in cities?

Sophie Mess

I believe street art has the power to transform how a space feels, and in turn, it can impact how we feel. Urban environments can often feel disconnected from the natural world, which is why I think nature-themed murals can help bridge that gap. These murals remind us of our connection to nature, making us feel part of something much bigger than ourselves, and in doing so, they offer similar psychological benefits. I specifically think that bright, extra-large floral murals—especially in unexpected places, can grab attention and create a momentary escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. They evoke the same awe and wonder we experience in nature, promoting similar physiological responses. Even if only for a brief moment, they can connect us to the calming beauty of nature and bring a smile to our faces.

Sophie Mess, Worcester paint Festival, 2021

GraffitiStreet

Your use of flowers and colour is bold, beautiful, and uplifting. Do certain flowers hold meaning?

Sophie Mess

Yes, I love researching the meanings behind different flowers. I often incorporate specific flowers into my work to enhance the overall message of the piece. It adds a special layer of significance when I use reference images from flowers I’ve grown in my own garden.

Sophie Mess ‘You are full of Wonder’2022, Phot credit Street Art Atlas

GraffitiStreet

You've painted in a variety of locations across Europe, and most recently Miami. How do different cities or cultures influence your murals?

Sophie Mess

Travelling and experiencing different cultures and cities is important to keep me energised as an artist, mostly because of the incredible people and inspiring artists I get to meet along the way.

Sophie Mess ‘Expansion’2024, Wynwood Walls Miami. Photo credit Martha Cooper

GraffitiStreet

You bring nature to life in cities not just with flowers, but also sometimes with birds. The birds in your murals feel like messengers or companions. Do they hold a special personal meaning for you?

Sophie Mess

Whenever I think of including birds in my artwork, I’m often drawn to hummingbirds simply because I love them! I’ve come to discover that they also symbolise joy, happiness, and positive energy. I love that, as these are the very emotions I want to express through my artwork

Sophie Mess 2022, Gothemburg Sweden. Photo Credit Artscape

GraffitiStreet

We're so happy to have you exhibit in our latest exhibition 'Concrete & Colour' in Chichester. What inspired the pieces you're showing in this exhibition, and how do they connect to your broader body of work?

Sophie Mess

‘Nebula Rose’ is actually off the back of a mural I painted of the same name in Oskersham, Sweden. Named after the Nebula Rosette, which is a large star-forming region in space, it was called this because it resembles a rosebud or a floral arrangement with a reddish-pink hue. I love the idea of a place where stars were born, and so this piece feels like things coming together to create something entirely different. These roses are also from my garden!

Sophie Mess ‘Nebula Rose’2024, Oskersham Sweden

‘Beauty in the Detour’ is a piece born from a moment of serendipity, and staying open to inspiration. After photographing flowers for a project, I began casually ‘plonking’ them into vases without much thought. But in that spontaneous act, something unexpected happened… the loosely placed flowers unintentionally became inspiration themselves.

This work is about those moments, unplanned, unpolished, that catch us off guard and shift our perspective. It’s a reminder to embrace the unexpected, to find beauty in the unplanned, and to stay open to the surprises that shape our journey.

Sophie Mess ‘Beauty in the Detour’ 2025, Concrete & Colour 2025