Overview
This project was commissioned for Dimple Lodge, Shimla, a nearly 180-year-old heritage property nestled in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. The brief was to create a collection of original watercolour artworks inspired by the flora and fauna surrounding the property, with exclusive usage rights for the lodge’s website. The intention was to translate the natural environment into a visual language that felt quiet, immersive, and rooted in place.
Concept & Direction
While working on this project, I approached the landscape as a living, breathing ecosystem rather than a fixed scene. The focus was on observing what naturally exists around the lodge—its trees, seasonal flowers, and the wildlife that moves through the space.
Instead of illustrating the property itself, the artworks were developed as nature-led studies, allowing individual elements to emerge gently and come together organically. The aim was to create pieces that feel unforced and timeless, much like the property they were created for.
Flora, Trees & Wildlife
The botanical language of this series reflects the diversity found in and around Dimple Lodge. Floral studies include salvia, hydrangeas, poppies, pansies, daisies, lilies, cosmos, and dahlias, painted with layered washes and delicate detailing. These are paired with representations of apple, peach, plum, and deodar trees, which form a quiet yet defining presence in the region.
Wildlife appears subtly within the compositions—never dominating the frame. Elements such as the leopard, barking deer, red jungle fowl, and birds like the flycatcher, red-billed blue magpie, and Blue Whistling Thrush are gently woven into the artwork, alongside the soft movement of butterflies. Together, they create a sense of stillness, balance, and quiet observation.
Website Footer Artwork – Botanical Horizon
The footer artwork brings together deodar trees, painted in layered greens, forming a rhythmic forest line in the background. In the foreground, salvia blooms rise in repeated vertical patterns, adding warmth and contrast. These are complemented by softer botanical studies, including hydrangeas, which introduce texture without interrupting the visual flow.
The composition is calm and structured, designed to sit seamlessly at the base of the website. Rather than drawing attention, the artwork grounds the digital space—echoing the experience of looking out at nature from within the lodge itself.
Artistic Process
All artworks were created using watercolour on paper, built gradually through layering and controlled detailing. Each composition was thoughtfully adapted for digital use, ensuring it retained its hand-painted character while integrating smoothly into the website layout.
Artwork Details
• Medium: Watercolour on paper
• Type: Exclusive commissioned artworks
• Usage: Website visuals and custom footer artwork (exclusive rights)
• Theme: Regional Flora • Native Wildlife • Quiet Observation • Sense of Place
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