KEY POINTS:
Hayley Brown first exhibited in Bay of Plenty's Garden & Artfest as an unknown 19-year-old.
Now, almost 10 years later and selling work internationally, Brown is back, exhibiting in her hometown of Tauranga again for this year's festival.
When she first showed her paintings in the festival, Brown was spotted by a Parnell gallery owner and offered a solo exhibition.
She said it was a really good start.
Her originals now sell for up to $20,000, and limited-edition and hand-embellished prints sold through an international art publisher fetch between $1500 and $2000.
Brown has also just completed a major project doing the art for rooms at Tauranga's new Sebel Trinity Wharf Hotel.
Examples of the hotel art will be on display at the Garden & ArtFest, which begins today and features work from more than 60 other artists displayed in 113 gardens, home and galleries between Katikati and Te Puke.
The gardens open Thursday to Sunday, with other events held in the lead-up, including a garden party, luncheon and seminar on rose-breeding.
The festival attracted 10,000 people when last held in 2004. The art includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photography and mosaics - most of which are for sale - and the gardens range from structured contemporary plots to rambling country estates.
A floral art display and fair, entry to which is free, will be held on the weekend. Tickets are required for other events and venues.
Brown is displaying her work at Iris Cottage, which belonged to her grandmother and is now boutique accommodation.
One of the works is a painting that resembles a photo of her maternal grandmother, whose name was Iris, in the 1930s.
"I feel like she wanted to be exhibited here," Brown said.
If the weather is fine, she plans to display some works on easels in the cottage garden, which her mother Lynne has been busy planting in anticipation of visitors.
Lynne Brown said she followed her mother's "licorice allsorts" approach to gardening and planted flowers wherever it seemed right. "I'm very proud of the fact I've done it without any gardeners."
The garden features roses, impatiens and, of course, irises.
