Samuel Etoh never set out to become an artist.
Rather, some unexpected turns in life led him to his current career as a pen-and-ink artist, creating intricate designs inspired by nature.
“My childhood dream was to be an architect; I love buildings, landscape, nature and design,” he says. “I liked to draw but I never saw myself as becoming an artist.”
The self-taught artist’s journey into the creative realm began when he landed a job at a floral decoration company in his native Nigeria, where he learned the basics of floristry.
He went on to study computer engineering but found himself more interested in learning about different dimensions of design.
“I left school to focus on discovering more about myself, and I started researching more about floral patterns, motif and fashion illustration,” he says.
While he tried his hand in the fashion illustration field, it was a struggle, so he returned to the floral industry.
“I started creating works with floral patterns, floral motif, floral symbols and textile design,” he says. After 15 years in the industry, Samuel was looking for greater exposure as an artist.
“It finally clicked in 2022 when I posted one of my projects called ‘Patterns of Samuel Etoh’ on a floral designer group on Facebook,” he says. “The feedback was mind-blowing.”
He spent three years on the project, creating 500 floral arrangement patterns with no references or repeat designs.
The patterns could be transferred onto different media such as wallpaper, fabric print and wrapping paper or serve as inspirational templates for florists and floral artists.
CAYMAN CONNECTION
He moved to Cayman in late 2022 to work as a floral designer at Foster’s Republix.
“I didn’t know anyone here but thank God I came because most of my dreams came to pass in the Cayman Islands,” he says. “I will say Cayman is a prophetic land for me.”
Now pursuing his passion as a floral artist and fresh flower arranger, he says the island has been a big inspiration for his work.
“I fell in love with Cayman’s national tree, the silver thatch palm,” he says. “I love the pattern of the palm leaf.”
His work ‘Silver Thatch Palm’ – a continuation of his ‘Freedom’ series which started in Nigeria – was selected for the National Gallery’s 3rd Cayman Islands Biennial juried exhibition in 2023.
The ink-on-paper piece was chosen for the gallery’s Big Art Auction 8 in 2024, an exhibition featuring work by leading contemporary artists.
The works were later auctioned at a private evening gallery event, with Samuel’s piece acquired by the Cayman Islands National Museum for its permanent collection.
He has since created several works influenced by the silver thatch palm, including ‘The Cayman Islands Floral Heritage’ series.
“These artworks were created to preserve Cayman’s floral heritage and to show how important the silver thatch palm is to Caymanians,” he says.
Samuel has exhibited at the Carlos V. Garcia Fine Art Gallery and Little Cayman Museum and his works are featured at The Gallery by Jason Kennedy in Camana Bay.
INTRICATE IMAGERY
Samuel works in acrylics and fine liner pens to create intricate, eye-catching imagery including mandala designs.
Flowers and patterns figure prominently in his work due to their symbolism of hope, strength and beauty.
“Flowers grow in different shapes and forms, and they have different meaning in different cultures around the world,” he says.
His artwork is inspired by what he terms the spirit of God, and is an expression of his own journey.
“When I draw, I pour out every detail of my emotions, pains, failures and challenges on paper,” he says. “I have been through several seasons in my life, and with the help of God, I am here to tell my story.
“A lot of people are going through seasons in their life. I want my story and testimony to serve as an encouragement to them in times of difficulties.”
