This body of work was initially sparked by the felling of trees in Cadogan’s neighbourhood for the HS2 project. She witnessed the community’s immediate grief and the personal stories that emerged, revealing the deep connections people had to these treasured specimens. In The Lost Trees, Cadogan explores the emotional and environmental significance of trees through the human stories and connections tied to these lost giants. Her paintings serve as memorials and tributes to the trees, whether from private gardens, parks, or hedgerows—each felled for different reasons. These works are uplifting testaments to the enduring legacy of trees and the vital role they play in our lives, and what they do for us.
Works celebrate the symbolic role of trees in all our lives as well as their historical and emotional significance as markers of time and place. The Lost Trees catalogue, which accompanied the 2025 exhibition, lets readers consider their own relationships with the natural world, especially in light of modern development, and the lasting impact trees have on our cultural heritage.