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 bei ..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 subj ..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. White d ..read more

On behalf of the ABA Team we wish all our Members and Followers peace and happiness over the holiday season and for the coming year. We have loved your company in 2023 and look forward to more artistic opportunities for 2024. Please note we will be taking a short break from 20th December - 5th January 2024. For something a little different we have added a seasonal gallery from some of the ABA Team. Take care, Elaine Allison ABA President ..read more

Our Current Exhibition The Magic of Leaves December 2023 - May 2024 New leaves, old leaves, colourful leaves, small leaves, large leaves any leaf. ABA's 'Eleventh Exhibition' features 102 artists from around the world celebrating the "Magic of Leaves". We hope you enjoy the diversity of the subjects and the talent of our members. 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

Are you wanting to try something different in your botanical art? Watercolor on vellum might be just what you’re looking for. In this review we explore the Watercolor on Vellum section of the book Botanical Art Techniques from the American Society for Botanical Artists (Carol Woodin and Robin A. Jess, editors; Timber Press, 2020). Reviewed by Mary Crabtree, Botanical Artist and ABA Education Team Member Historically, many of the masters of botanical art painted on vellum creating luminous portrayals of their subjects. Today, a growing number of contemporary botanical artists are choosing to w ..read more

'Watercolor has historically been the most used medium for creating botanical artworks, and it continues to be so today. Watercolor’s broad range of techniques for application, expansive range of pigments, transparency, and ability to portray fine details are some of the reasons it dominates the field.' Below, Jonanda Kannemeyer reviews the Watercolor on Paper section of Part 2 of this book from the American Society of Botanical Artists (edited by Carol Woodin and Robin A. Jess, and published by Timber Press in 2020) Review by Jonanda Kannemeyer, Illustrator & Botanical Artist, ABA Educati ..read more

A new exhibition has opened at The Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Kew Gardens, which celebrates the talent of young botanical artists aged 16-25. It is the culmination of an idea seeded during the Covid pandemic. Botanical art is a challenging artform to create because it draws on the combined skills of the fine artist and the botanist. These skills can take many years to attain, and many people do not have the fortune to discover this artform in their formative years or have the time to devote to its practice until later in life. History has offered us a few exceptions, where that rare combinatio ..read more

London - 2023 On the 26th September a group of ABA members were treated to a fascinating afternoon hosted by Charlotte Brooks - Art Curator of the Royal Horticultural Society, Lindley Library and Jessica Hudson - Rare Books Librarian. For those of you who could not be with us here is a flavour of what we saw and some additional links so you can treat yourself to a deeper dive into the wonderful library collection. We started with a Lindley Library, Live Lunchtime Talk by photographer ,Clare Newton on her RHS funded bursary - 'Seeds of Change'. Clare outlined the work being carried out in Edi ..read more