Book Review - "Outside In"

It’s rare that I find myself eagerly counting down the days until a book’s release—but that’s exactly what happened with "Outside In", the debut work by Sean A. Pritchard. I finally got my hands on a copy over the weekend, and since then, I haven’t been able to put it down.

Sean Pritchard first appeared on my radar through the lens of Instagram—a familiar haunt where I often seek inspiration and fresh ideas. Yet, amid the endless scroll, only a rare few accounts truly capture the heart. Sean’s was one of those—a quiet beacon of creativity and authenticity that I found myself returning to, time and again, eager to glimpse the world through his unique horticultural eye.

At first, it was the beautiful flower displays that drew me in—blooming with effortless grace on Sean’s Instagram grid week after week. Soon, glimpses of his stunning home, quietly nestled behind the petals, began to appear—and that’s when I was truly hooked. Here was someone gifted yet refreshingly low-key and relatable. Now, having read his book, I realise that everything Sean shares—whether in posts or prose—is not just inspiring but genuinely achievable for any garden lover.

So many floral artists fill their books and displays with intricate designs that take years of skill and formal training. That’s wonderful for those building a career in floristry, but for someone like me—without that background and with a garden still very much a work in progress—it can feel completely out of reach. Sean’s book, by contrast, was a quiet revelation. It showed me I didn’t need fancy techniques. I could simply gather flowers from my own garden and arrange them with ease, finding a confidence that made floral artistry feel truly accessible.

I’ve already begun gathering tulips from my garden, arranging them with a quiet confidence sparked by Sean’s approachable style. It feels like a gentle rite of passage—each stem placed with care, every colour pairing a small celebration of the season’s unfolding. With Sean’s guidance, I believe that, in time, I’ll be able to craft those effortless, beautiful displays he so gracefully shares on social media and in his book. That hope, that quiet vision, feels like a breath of fresh air—something real to look forward to as the garden slowly comes alive through the year. I find myself returning to the book again and again, like a trusted friend, softly offering inspiration when I need it most.

Sean’s background in branding and fine art, combined with formal training in garden design, certainly gave him a head start. But it feels like everything truly blossomed when he received the keys to his own charming cottage nestled in the Mendip Hills. Nearby, an old English orchard became an unexpected wellspring of inspiration—a quiet, natural beauty that seemed to awaken something in him. Sean’s flair for display and staging—whether in his home, garden, or cherished possessions—found its perfect canvas in his new space. Having a place to call his own gave him the freedom and opportunity to craft his signature style.

Sean traces his passion for display back to childhood visits to museums, where row upon row of butterflies and beetles were meticulously cataloged and artfully arranged to captivate and invite curiosity. Early memories of carefully staged shop windows and thoughtfully curated book collections in libraries further ignited his fascination with presentation—each one inviting you in, encouraging a closer look. This love of thoughtful staging is woven deep into Sean’s story and lies at the heart of how he introduces his book, gently guiding readers to discover the beauty of storytelling through display.

Very cleverly, the book itself does exactly what it sets out to—on the surface, it’s a “coffee table book,” filled with stunning photographs and floral displays that make you want to keep turning the pages. But once you’re drawn in, it quietly teaches and encourages you to explore further, much like a museum—one of Sean’s favourite places, even now. This isn’t just another gardening book; it’s something altogether different. The book feels like Sean A. Pritchard himself—one of the rare books I’ve read that truly reflects the person behind it. It’s carefully and thoughtfully crafted, in every sense.

After the introduction, the chapters move through Sean’s favourite flowers by season, beginning with spring. He shares his love for daffodils, recommending a handful of varieties—some grown in containers, others planted directly in the ground. Each eventually finds its way indoors, becoming part of a stunning arrangement or display that brings the season’s quiet beauty into the home.

Sean offers simple notes on what works for him—favorite varieties, how he plants and cares for them, and what to do when their season ends and they return to dormancy. He invites you into his studio, where he chooses varieties by cutting out images and mounting them on display boards. It’s a gentle way of opening your eyes to new possibilities, while also clearly naming the varieties so you can go out and grow them yourself.

After spring, the book moves into summer, highlighting flowers like foxgloves, nasturtiums, and one of Sean’s favourites—the pelargonium. Once again, Sean offers thoughtful suggestions on colour, form, and how to display these plants. He also shares practical advice about vessels, reminding us it doesn’t have to be complicated. Often, he chooses something simple—a bowl or even a mug—and explains how to use chicken wire or a floral “frog” to help the flowers fall into place. Unlike many floral arrangement books that list a long inventory of “essentials,” Sean encourages you to use what you already have, gently nudging the creativity within to come forward.

There are chapters dedicated to annual plants, with Sean generously sharing his tried-and-tested tips for getting the best from seedlings. He moves on to roses and other summer-flowering plants, offering advice for both garden beds and containers. Throughout, he provides practical guidance on when to feed, how and when to cut back, and how to make the most of each display.

After the summer abundance, the book turns to winter and then back into spring. At this time of year, the garden slows down, and there’s less happening outdoors. Sean often cuts branches from shrubs and trees—catkins, for example, which deserve their own chapter. He shares advice on forcing bulbs indoors, helping to keep life and colour flowing through the colder months and into spring. Though the garden is quieter, Sean explains that this can be an easier time to enjoy plants close at hand, as many bulbs thrive indoors during these months.

By the end of the book, my imagination was sparked, my enthusiasm buzzing with new ideas and possibilities. Sean is clearly talented—his floral displays are among the most admired online. Yet, he doesn’t shy away from sharing his own doubts. Nothing ever feels quite finished or good enough to him, despite his skill. There’s always something he thinks he could have done differently, or more to do to reach perfection. But then he reflects on learning to live more in the moment, and, though he doesn’t say it outright, to appreciate what you already have. I found that to be a beautifully honest way to look back—and a fitting note on which to end the book.