FROM magnolias to orchids, cherry blossom to clematis, Lorraine Wood's love of flowers is branching out in new directions.

The master of the art of floristry, who specialises in weddings and events and has designed creations for the Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremonies as well as hotels such as Mar Hall and stores including Debenhams and House of Fraser, is running workshops to pass on her skills.

The 34-year-old from Houston, who works from a studio in Linwood, has spent years building her career, working in Glasgow and Renfrewshire. Now with her own business flourishing, she says it is time to try a new challenge.

"I feel there are a lot of brides out there wanting to do things for themselves but they need a bit of tuition on how to go about things," explains Lorraine.

"We look at flower preparation, what florists call conditioning the flowers: de-thorning them, cutting them, and taking foliage off. A hand tied floral bouquet class will focus on the technicalities behind the spiral stem, achieving balance and the principles of colour combinations."

The insider tips can help anyone get a professional look, whether they are styling flowers for their home, wedding or a special occasion.

"I'm hoping to run other classes on things such as wrist corsages," says Lorraine. "A lot of people may be going to a wedding and don't have a florist near them. It would be handy to have the know-how to make them.

"I'm looking at doing another class called Pimp My Vase. Everyone has a collection of vases under the kitchen sink and they don't know what to do with them all, what flowers work with what shapes.

"What I'm trying to say is, you don't have to spend a fortune. Bring the vase in and we'll show you what works with a wide neck or with a narrow neck. It's really just trying to work with what people have at home."

Whether you're a complete novice to arranging flowers or want some top tips to freshen up your home, Lorraine says a basic rule is to use the same colour of blooms and keep things simple.

"You can't go wrong if you're using the same hues and it doesn't matter where you position the flowers," comments Lorraine.

She says to think about after care. Most people leave flowers in a vase until the water goes green. If you want the best out of them, refresh your water regularly, cut the stems every two to three days and keep them away from direct sunlight and radiators.

Lorraine is passionate about flowers and says she never fails to feel a buzz of excitement when she visits the market and starts planning new floral designs.

"I really enjoy doing a mock-up table design for a bride. We will have chatted and got the basic idea of what we want to do, then she comes in for the final consultation and when she sees the room you get caught up in all the excitement when she can visualise how it will all look on the day," says Lorraine.

"You think, that just came from a wee idea and now I'm actually seeing it all set up."

Current floral trends include unusual groupings in everything from jam jars and jugs to teacups to going big on seasonal blooms to get the freshest flowers.

For weddings, Lorraine says dahlias, garden roses, clematis and jasmine are all in this year. She suggests for a different look, men could dry a small succulent plant for a buttonhole, or alternatively a rustic bunch of herbs tied with twine.

"My favourite flowers depend on the season. Just now it's magnolia, but I also love cherry blossom. A real favourite is a tikka-coloured orchid, a really pale blush pink."

Visit www.lorrainewoodflowers.co.uk for information on workshops or to make an appointment.