Where does your inspiration come from?   In her new book, The Tapestry of Life: A Botanical Artist's Miscellany, Susan Christopher-Coulson shares with us the sources of inspiration for creating her botanical artworks, from gorgeous single plant studies to her well-known ‘collections’.   Reviewed by Mary Crabtree, Botanical Artist and ABA Education Team Member I first saw Susan Christopher-Coulson’s work in 2019 in the Modern Masterpieces of Botanical Art exhibit at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew Gardens. Her depiction of a collection of winter-hardy flowering ..read more

World-renowned botanical art and photography has been brought together this summer in one fabulous Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Show at the Saatchi Gallery, London. The RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show, taking place from 14th June to 7th July 2024, exhibits exquisite botanical art and photography featuring a rich variety of subjects from medicinal desert flowers to ornamental bananas, and from images of forest slime moulds to urban street plants. It showcases the work of 22 leading global botanical artists and 18 photographers, representing countries including the UK, Italy, Port ..read more

Garden and social historian Advolly Richmond of BBC’s Gardener’s World (UK TV show) unravels the surprising histories of 60 flowers that shape our gardens in 'A Short History of Flowers: The stories that make our gardens', illustrated by Sarah Jane Humphrey. Published March 2024 by Frances Lincoln, Quarto Group. Reviewed by Emma van Klaveren, Botanical Illustrator and ABA Committee and Education Team Leader Have you ever wondered where your favourite flowers came from or what inspired their names? Or why some go in and out of fashion? “Tales of exploration, everlasting ..read more

Drawing and Painting Fungi explains clearly how to discover and depict fungi and lichens in a wide range of media. Claire Ward uses her extensive knowledge of her subjects to explain their particular features, including some of their fascinating life cycles and how to identify the main groups of fungi. There are all sorts of interesting observations about fungi and lichens, which means this book will appeal not just to artists but to all who wish to find out more about these organisms. Reviewed by: Pam Taylor, Botanist, Botanical Artist and ABA Committee and Education Team Member Claire W ..read more

Our Current Exhibition DRAMA May 2024 - November 2024 Celebrating the DRAMA of the plant world. ABA's 'Twelfth Exhibition' features 90 artists from around the world. When you click on an image you will be able to magnify the artwork to see some of the finer detail. For the best experience go full screen. We hope you enjoy the latest ABA Members exhibition. The ABA Team ..read more

Sketchbooks can be useful to artists in many ways.  How do you use them in your practice?  In this review I will give you a peek inside Lucy T Smith’s new book, Botanical Sketchbooks: An Artist’s Guide to Plant Studies. This book may change the way you think of and use sketchbooks to support and inform your work! Reviewed by Mary Crabtree, Botanical Artist and ABA Education Team Member Botanical Sketchbooks: An Artist’s Guide to Plant Studies, by well-known botanical artist and illustrator Lucy T Smith (The Crowood Press, 2024), is one of very few publications focussed on t ..read more

Have you selected a subject to illustrate for Botanical Art Worldwide 2025?  If not, a visit to the Economic Botany Collection at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, may provide inspiration! Post by Diane Marshall, Botanical Artist, PPSBA On February 24, 2024, ABA members were treated to a visit to the Economic Botany Collection at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. We were so lucky to be given a tour of this fascinating collection in preparation for choosing subject matter for the Botanical Art Worldwide 2025 exhibition (BAWW). Professor Mark Nesbitt was our brilliant guide. In addition to ..read more

Looking for a sensible and thorough 'how to' book on botanical painting with glorious images? Then look no further. Written and illustrated by an ex-teacher and graphic designer, this book does what it says on the tin!   Reviewed by Emma van Klaveren, Botanical Illustrator and ABA Committee and Education Team Leader Jarnie Godwin has proved herself able to meet the exacting standards of many prestigious international botanical illustration bodies. However, she freely admits that it is botanical art and not botanical illustration that brings her the most joy. Jarnie elevates ordinary s ..read more

What are your thoughts on weeds and their place in your garden and in botanical art? In this article, ABA member Annie Morris shares her thoughts on the topic and her knowledge of weeds in her UK garden, along with beautiful illustrations of species she has studied. Words and illustrations by Annie Morris, botanical artist, gardener and ABA Committee and Education Team member. Throughout the world people who cultivate plants, whether in fields or in gardens classify as weeds certain plants which invade their crops and gardens. A plant may be called a weed if it has arrived uninvited. Whit ..read more

World-renowned botanical art and photography has been brought together this summer in one fabulous Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Show at the Saatchi Gallery, London. The RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show, taking place from 14th June to 7th July 2024, exhibits exquisite botanical art and photography featuring a rich variety of subjects from medicinal desert flowers to ornamental bananas, and from images of forest slime moulds to urban street plants. It showcases the work of 22 leading global botanical artists and 18 photographers, representing countries including the UK, Italy, Port ..read more