Kristi Radford’s photography blends reality & imagination into whimsical floral art

At Women in Arts Network, Spring Through My Eyes introduced us to artists who reminded us that spring is not only something we see in nature, but something we experience through colour, light, and the small moments that make us stop and look closer. Kristi Radford is one of the selected artists whose layered photographic compositions capture that sense of wonder, transforming everyday elements into dreamlike worlds filled with imagination.

Photography has been part of Kristi’s life since childhood. Armed with a small 110 camera, she photographed everything that caught her attention pets, trees, passing scenery, and the little details many people overlooked.

That instinct to observe never left her. Today, she still approaches the world with the same curiosity, always searching for an unexpected angle, an interesting reflection, or a fleeting moment of light that might become the beginning of a new piece.

Although her creative journey has included writing and illustrating children’s books, designing jewellery, cards, and ornaments, photography has remained the thread connecting everything she creates. Through MisBeeHaven Designs, she has developed a distinctive process of layering multiple photographs into richly textured compositions that blur the line between reality and imagination.

Working entirely on her phone gives her the freedom to create wherever inspiration appears, allowing ideas to grow naturally from the moments she captures each day.

Nature remains her greatest source of inspiration. Whether it’s a flower blooming unexpectedly, sunlight filtering through clouds, or the changing colours of the seasons, Kristi finds beauty in the details that often go unnoticed.

Rather than simply documenting those moments, she reshapes them into imaginative compositions filled with colour, movement, and a sense of play, encouraging viewers to experience the familiar through a fresh perspective.

There is a joyful openness to Kristi’s creative process. She isn’t afraid to experiment, layer unexpected elements together, or follow an idea simply because it feels interesting. That willingness to play gives her work its distinctive character and reminds us that creativity often begins with something as simple as paying attention.

Now, let’s get to know Kristi Radford through our conversation about photography, imagination, nature, and finding extraordinary beauty in everyday moments.

Q1. Could you share a little about your journey into the arts and how creativity became such an important part of your life?

Photography has always been my art style of choice. When I was little (7 or 8) someone gave me a 110 camera. I used that to snap pictures of my pets, trees, and blurry scenery out car windows. From then on I always had a camera. I love landscapes, but they can be kind of boring, so I’m always trying new things. New angles, weird reflections, spinning in circles. I’ll try anything to find an interesting shot. Taking pictures is just part of who I am and I’m just starting to share it with the world.

Q2. Before founding MisBeeHaven Designs, was creativity always part of your life, or did it develop over time?

Being creative is not new, about twelve years ago, I wrote and illustrated three children’s books. The illustrations were photographs of the paper characters taken in my back yard. The photos were edited on a cell phone. This technique I still use today. I’ve also made jewelry, cards, and ornaments. Which gave me skills that have been an integral part of the work I do now.

But it also tied me to a desk which I didn’t enjoy. With Misbeehaven designs I do it all on my cell phone which gives me the freedom to find inspiration, and create art anywhere at any time.

Q3. Your work combines multiple photographs into a single image. What first inspired you to work this way?

The first layered photograph I ever made was a picture of my grandson laying on top of a fly agaric mushroom. It was adorable, and I was hooked. I started layering everything and eventually the flowers took over.

Q4. Instead of documenting reality, you create new worlds from layered images. What do you enjoy most about that process?

Creating new worlds from multiple images gives me the flexibility to take a single element that was potentially boring or overlooked and really highlight it, make it stand out. I love the process of finding the right flower/leaf/ background combo. Tweaking the images until I fall in love with it.

Q5.Your compositions are rich with colour and texture. What role does colour play in shaping each piece?

Color makes pieces pop. Some images need a dark contrasting color to make them shine, while others need softer, gentler tones. For instance, my piece for this exhibit would not work with a dark background. The focus would be lost and half the image would be invisible. Spring is all about bright vibrant colors just exploding out of nowhere, and this piece really embodies that for me. Sometimes I use color to set the piece in time, or set a certain tone. Cheery, holiday, dark and mystical, these can all be conveyed using color.

Q6. Some of your work feels familiar, while other pieces lean toward the surreal. What interests you about that balance?

What attracts me to the space between the real and the imagined is playfulness. I don’t have to make up an entirely new flower, but I can if I want to. I can use whatever I think looks good or interesting. I’ve layered fall leaves to look like a flower, or hydrangea skeletons to look like lace, I really just play. It’s fun to put together the images, to test out different flowers on different backgrounds and see what looks good.

Q7. Nature appears to play an important role in your imagery. What continues to inspire you about the natural world?

Nature does play an important role in my life. Growing up there was a pond on my parents property and I used to spend hours out there catching frogs and feeding ducks. Nature is a place to recharge and ground myself. I love watching the seasons change, Hot days of summer turn into cold mornings and warm afternoons, then icy bushes that shimmer. Each season brings its own treasures and delights for me to find and enjoy.

Q8. What has been one of the most rewarding aspects of sharing your work with others?

One of the most rewarding aspects of sharing my work with others has been opening myself up. I am very shy and I don’t talk about myself easily. So putting my work out there has been validating. The people that know me, like me, but this has been a way for me to reach people I don’t know, and allow them to like something about me.

Q9. Where do you most often find inspiration in everyday moments, personal experiences, travel, or something else entirely?  

I find inspiration everywhere. Taking a walk I might see a really pretty leaf on the ground or when I am at my fulltime job (I work outside) the sunlight might be angled through the clouds in an interesting way. I’m always on the lookout for moments to capture. I’ll snap a photo and when I have time, I’ll play and see what or if it becomes anything. But the inspiration is always there, I just have to choose to focus on it. To see what is around me.

Q10. What would you say to artists who are trying to find their place in the art world today?

To artists trying to find their place in the art world today- I say play, experiment. Don’t be rigid. Your style won’t emerge if you are trying to imitate someone else. And, the piece you hate has a home! When I make jewelry the pieces I hate, my husband loves, and they always sell. Just put it out there.

Q11. Success means something different to every artist. What does it mean to you today?

I am relatively new to this, so success looks like followers on instagram, some sales to keep my printer humming, and continued acceptance into art shows and exhibits. I took an art business course and the motto was slow growth is good growth.

Q12. What advice would you give artists who are still finding their creative voice?

To emerging artists- Cook your art like you cook your spaghetti, throw it on the wall and see what sticks. Just kidding, don’t throw your art on the wall. But seriously, experiment and see what stands out and what is the most meaningful to you. When something makes you say “oh that’s pretty”- do that again and again.

As our conversation with Kristi came to a close, we found ourselves thinking about how easily we overlook the extraordinary in everyday life.

Spring doesn’t always arrive in dramatic ways. Sometimes it’s a shaft of sunlight breaking through the clouds, a flower beginning to bloom, or a leaf catching the light just long enough for someone to notice it. Those small moments often pass us by, but they are exactly where Kristi begins. Her work reminds us that beauty isn’t rare we simply have to slow down enough to see it.

What makes her photography especially engaging is the freedom with which she creates. Rather than treating the camera as a tool for recording reality, she uses it as a starting point for imagination. By layering photographs together, she builds images that feel both familiar and unexpected, encouraging us to look beyond what is immediately visible and discover new possibilities within ordinary scenes.

There is also something refreshing about Kristi’s willingness to experiment. She doesn’t wait for perfect conditions or follow rigid creative rules. She plays, explores, and allows curiosity to lead the process. That openness gives her work a sense of joy that feels genuine and reminds us that some of the most meaningful discoveries happen when we’re simply willing to try something new.

For collectors and photography lovers, Kristi’s work offers more than beautifully crafted images. Each composition invites repeated viewing, revealing new textures, colours, and visual relationships the longer you spend with it. Her photographs don’t simply capture a moment—they transform it, encouraging us to see the natural world with a renewed sense of curiosity and wonder.

Perhaps that is what stayed with us most after speaking with Kristi.

Sometimes all it takes is a different perspective to discover that the extraordinary has been quietly waiting in front of us all along.

Follow Kristi Radford through the links below and explore more of her imaginative photographic work.