Flora Parkes (b. 2005) is a Derbyshire-born artist who was raised in the rural town of Dumfries and Galloway along the Scotland-England border. She regards herself as a portrait painter, and soft sculptor.

Parkes has a deep fascination for history, exploring it through repurposed vintage fabrics and antique objects. She views their age and history reflected as part of its desired aesthetic. Parkes sources her items from second-hand markets like car-boot sales, charity shops, and gifted hand-me-downs from friends and family.

After specially sourcing these selected articles, Parkes  either through inspiration or direct applied use within an artwork illustrates narratives and stories from her personal life, using the arts as a medium of intimate storytelling through referencing.

The artist believes damaged features like rips, cracks, and stains in her found items push interest and give her chosen items "character".  Not only this, but by re-selecting such objects, Flora Parkes plays with the act of repurposing, and upcycling. These processes help prevent waste and overconsumption of both herself, and others, whilst simultaneously preventing the artist's carbon footprint from growing in the production of unnecessary new stock.

Items are specially selected by the artist which she familiarises with memories and moments of her life, mainly her youth. By purposefully using aged second-hand objects, Flora Parkes invites the audience to interpret her artworks with their own lived experiences in mind too, encouraging a moment of collaboration upon viewing. This promotes human connection and joint affinity - something the artist implores from her practice.