Rotorua florist Ashley Smith named NZ Designer of the Year

One of Ashley Smith's entries. Photo / Supplied

It takes a certain amount of flair and creativity to take an array of individual items and turn them into a masterpiece.

But Rotorua florist Ashley Smith has had plenty of experience doing just that and this weekend was rewarded for her hard work, being named New Zealand Designer of the Year.

The accolade was handed down to Smith at the 2019 Designers of the Future competition held in Queenstown on Saturday.

Ashley Smith at the gala dinner on Saturday night. Photo / Supplied

Hosted by Interflora, competing florists were tasked with creating four pieces - a woman's headpiece, a horse garland, a tall arrangement for a buffet table and a hand-tied bouquet presentation for a man.

Speaking with the Rotorua Daily Post, Smith said she was "still riding the high" from the weekend's win.

"Being a competition you wanted to push the boundaries and think outside the box and I was really happy with what I did based on what I came up with in my head.

One of Ashley Smith's entries. Photo / Supplied

"I tried not to think about it as a competition, I wanted to have fun with it and focus on what I was doing.

"The horse garland challenged me the most because I hadn't done one before but also because I found the colours - blue and yellow - clashed so I put some green in there to soften it."

One of Ashley Smith's entries. Photo / Supplied

Despite having done floristry for four years, this was the first national competition Smith entered.

"I did it for the experience and now I can tick it off the list."

She said she was drawn to the floristry profession because of her "love for plant life and the beauty of flowers".

One of Ashley Smith's entries. Photo / Supplied

"I wanted to work in an industry where I could use my creativity as well."

As well as the title of New Zealand Designer of the Year, Smith took home a trophy and a cash prize.

Smith works at Living Colour.