On this page you will find profiles of:
Contemporary botanical artists and illustrators of distinction who live in or are based in Brazil;
The Artist Scholars from the Margaret Mee Fellowship Programme (1989-2016) at Kew;
Plus professional botanical illustrators living and working in Chile, Colombia and Mexico.
Contemporary botanical artists and illustrators of distinction who live in or are based in Brazil;
The Artist Scholars from the Margaret Mee Fellowship Programme (1989-2016) at Kew;
Plus professional botanical illustrators living and working in Chile, Colombia and Mexico.
Latin America - definition and explanation
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Separating the countries of the Americas in terms of geography and cultural identity - never mind plant habitats(!) - is something of a challenge - hence I've changed the change of name of this page from "South America" to "Latin America".
Hence this page now includes scope for listings of artists living in Latin America relating to the countries listed next. |
Countries are listed in alphabetical order - within their geographical context
In simplistic terms Latin America comprises all the Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries to the south of the United States i.e.
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North America
Mexico
A scientific illustrator translates the needs of a biologist with an informative purpose into images. The drawing requires absolute fidelity to the real model, its colors, the detail, to the point that sometimes the biologist himself discovers aspects in the sheet that went unnoticed, such as a bulb or a hidden hair.
....The worst thing they can tell me is that my drawing looks like a photograph.
Elvia Esparza - Mexico Arts Magazine | Elvia Esparza, the great scientific illustrator (2016)
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Elvia Esparza Alvarado GM (1999, 2004)
b. Mexico City in 1944. She is Professor of the Laboratory of Scientific Illustration at the Institute of Biology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She has worked there since 1980 having taken up botanical illustration in 1971. She graduated from the School of Painting and Sculpture, the Esmeralda of the National Institute of Fine Arts but then took time out to raise her children. She has received several awards for her scientific illustration including two RHS Gold Medals for illustrations of cacti and desert plants in their natural habitats. In 2004 she was awarded 'Best Botanical Artist' at the RHS exhibition. Her work appears in numerous scientific publications of the UNAM’s Biology Institute and others and about botanical art including A New Flowering: 1000 Years of Botanical Art and Old and New South American Art. Her works have been exhibited around the world including at the Natural History Museum, London; the Linnean Society; RHS Wisley and her work is in the collections of the Royal Botanic Garden Kew, the Hunt Institute and UNAM. She has also taught several generations of scientific illustrators. She founded the Mexico Academy of Scientific Illustration and was President from 1991-1998. ( She has no website - Article about her; another article) |
Edmundo Saavedra Vidal
A professional botanical illustrator who is member of the technical staff at the Instituto de Ecología AC de México. He was awarded First Prize in the Margaret Flockton Award in 2011 and 2015. He also came second in 2014. |
South America
Brazil
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Sérgio Allevato
b. 1971 Rio de Janeiro (MM Scholar 1998) followed by a Masters Degree in Fine Arts at Goldsmith College, University of London. Artist in Residence at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in 2001. Work held at Kew, the Hunt Institute where he exhibited in 2001, the Zoological Society in London and many private collections. Work reproduced in Curtis's Botanical Magazine. Various exhibitions in the UK, USA and Canada. Featured in Old and New South American Art. |
Arvores Notáveis: 200 Anos do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro - co-illustrated by Malena Barreto and Paulo Ormindo
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Malena Barretto
b. 1952 Rio de Janeiro. (MM Scholar 1989) Studied at Kew in 1990 as first Margaret Mee Scholar and strongly influenced by the style of Margaret Mee's work. Exhibited extensively in Brazil, the US, Europe and Chile. Produced a book of Watercolors and drawings of the Brazilian flora in 2004. Co-illustrator with Paulo Ormindo of Arvores Notáveis: 200 Anos do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, a prizewinning and groundbreaking book that was the first to fully illustrate and describe all the native tree species of Brazil. Teacher at the Jardim Botânico school in Rio and at various other venues. Featured in A New Flowering: 1000 years of Botanical Art. |
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Diana Carneiro
Based in Curitiba, (MM Scholar 1997) - Founding member of the Paraná Botanical Illustration Center (CIBP and organizer of the Open Course Design Botanical Illustration. Steering Group Member of the National Union of Scientific Illustrators (UNIC). Coordinator of II National Meeting of Scientific Illustrators (II EBIC) held in Curitiba PR, in July 2008. Affiliated to American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA). Exhibited internationally including the 13th Hunt Exhibition. Has works in serval important collections. Her book "Botanical Illustration: Principles and Methods" was published by Editora the Federal University of Paraná, in May 2012. (Kew Gardens Collection: Fuchsia arborescens, Diana Carneiro) |
André Demonte
b. 1957, son of Etienne Demonte. Trained as a geologist but also a member of the Atelier Demonte in Petropolis. Exhibited widely in the 1980-90s including at the 'Botanical Artists of the World' exhibition at the Tryon & Swann Gallery, London, in 1998 and at the Hunt. Featured in Old and New South American Art. Rodrigo Demonte b. 1961, son of Etienne Demonte. Trained as an agronomist -specialising in sols and natural resources but was also a member of Atelier Demonte. Started exhibiting paintings in Brazil in 19080s and showed in USA and UK in 1990s including the 'Botanical Artists of the World' exhibition at the Tryon Gallery in London |
Gustavo Marigo with two of his paintings bought by Shirley Sherwood for her collection - at the 'Brazil - a Powerhouse of Plants' exhibition in 2016
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Rogério Lupo
A Natural Science Illustrator who graduated in biology from the Universidade de São Paulo who also teaches.
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Gustavo Marigo
Born 1981 in Rio de Janeiro. Natural history and botanical illustrator (MM Scholar 2015). He has been winning awards for his botanical illustrations for the last 20 years and has been commissioned by biologists and editors to illustrate scientific articles and books. Graduated in Design (Rio de Janeiro); won first prize in the Margaret Mee Botanical Foundation Botanical Painting Contest in 2000 before becoming an MMF Artist Scholar at Kew in 2015. In 2016 he won 2nd prize in the Margaret Flockton Award and had three of his paintings (purchased by Shirley Sherwood) included in 'Brazil - A Powerhouse of Plants' exhibition at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at Kew. Currently teaches via workshops at the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, classes, courses and private lessons. |
Natanael Nascimento
Born Salvador, 1985. Graduated in Biologic Sciences at the Universidade Federal da Bahia. Encouraged to try botanical illustration and his first illustration in pen and ink came out in a publication. He has pursued self-study and courses to develop both monochrome and watercolour techniques. He focuses on black and white illustrations of scientific articles, thesis and books in botany. He now uses digital software and media due to technological advances and the difficulties in obtaining good quality support and ink.
Born Salvador, 1985. Graduated in Biologic Sciences at the Universidade Federal da Bahia. Encouraged to try botanical illustration and his first illustration in pen and ink came out in a publication. He has pursued self-study and courses to develop both monochrome and watercolour techniques. He focuses on black and white illustrations of scientific articles, thesis and books in botany. He now uses digital software and media due to technological advances and the difficulties in obtaining good quality support and ink.
- Won Margaret Flockton Award First Prize in 2018 with a digital illustration of Lapidia apicifolia. (His first competition and first prize!)
- Won Second Prize in the Margaret Flockton 2023 with a digital illustration of Centrosema sericiflorum (butterfly pea)
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Álvaro Xavier Núñez
b. Annapolis. where he lives and works. He initially qualified and worked as an architect and on urban projects. In 1989, he started to study botany in 1989 and has dedicated many years to the scientific illustration of on the scientific illustration of wildlife and botanical subjects found in different ecosystems within Brazil including some areas which have not hitherto received much attention. He also spends long periods (up to 8 months) working away while studying new plants. His work work focuses on the fruits of the trees of the savanna, Amazonia and Pantanal. He has taught several botanical illustration courses. In 1998 received the Jabuti award for the work of illustration Fruit Bowl Amazon, produced by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA). He has also received a number of other awards for his art. He also has 29 paintings in the Shirley Sherwood Collection. |
Álvaro Xavier Nunes with some of his paintings in the gallery devoted to his work in the "Brazil - a powerhouse of plants" exhibition at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at Kew Gardens in 2016
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Maria Alice de Rezende
Rio de Janeiro, (MM Scholar 2004) - She has produced botanical illustrations for a number of projects and organisations including: the Research Institute of the Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden.; Native Species of Brazilian Flora of Brazil occurring in the forests of Bullfinch Paracambi Park; Contributed to the Project Color: Orchids: Endangered or threatened with Extinction for Petrobras and Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. Her work is in several publications and public and private collections in Brazil and other countries. Member of ASBA |
Susana Ferreira de Souza
Trained in Brazil in Graphic Design (1972) and in Botanical Illustration. Works as a botanical illustrator and has entered work for the Margaret Flockton Award. |
Klei Rodrigo Sousa
His scientific botanical illustrations have consistently won prizes, been selected for the Margaret Flockton Exhibition. He has won
Winner of various Margaret Flockton awards
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Gustavo Surlo
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Watercolour paintings by Fatima Zagonel - in the "Brazil - a powerhouse of plants' exhibition at Kew
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Silvia Troyo-Jimenez
Illustrated the 7 volumes of the Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica - a joint project between Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, Missouri Botanical Garden and the former INBio. She has been a botanical illustrator for 25 years and her work has appeared in several other publications. Patricia Arroxellas Villela b.1952 Rio de Janeiro. After initial training in the 70s at the School of Visual Arts , she began began her botanical art career in the early 1990s by attending the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Institute. She has been awarded a number of prizes and has shown internationally and at the Hunt Institute. |
M. Fatima Zagonel
b. 1954. Curitiba. In 1998, she began her studies of botanical art in Curitiba with Diane Carneiro. Subsequently, she studied with Christobel King when she spent 6 months at Kew Gardens as a Margaret Mee Scholar. Major collections including her paintings include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Shirley Sherwood Collection and the Hunt Institute. (Kew Gardens Collection: Echinopsis mamillosa, Fatima Zagonel) and her work has been exhibited at Kew on a regular basis. She now helps other aspiring botanical artists. |
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Old and New South American Botanical Art
by M. Pilar San Pío Aladrén and Shirley Sherwood This book was published in 2010 to accompany the exhibition at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at Kew which was curated by Dr. Shirley Sherwood and Pilar de San Pío Aladren of the Real Jardín Botánico of Madrid. The images in the exhibition - which are reflected in this catalogue - included
Brazilian artists featured in the exhibition include the Demonte family, a dynasty of botanical painters, and the award winning Alvaro Núñez whose work focuses on the fruits of the trees of the savanna, Amazonia and Pantanal. The book also includes paintings of South American plants by non-South American artists. |
Publisher: Real Jardín Botánico of Madrid
Paperback: 175 pages : color illustrations ; 30 cm This book is out of print and very difficult to get hold of. I bought my copy at the exhibition at Kew. I'd recommend searching online for second-hand copies. Beware there are English and Spanish editions! Alternatively there are copies at leading academic institutions e.g. Natural History Museum in London. |
Margaret Mee Artist Scholars
Margaret Mee has influenced the development of botanical art and artists in South America and in particular Brazil.
Gustavo Morigo, the 2015 Marget Mee Artist Scholar with Christobel King (in front of some of her own paintings) in the Brazil exhibition at Kew.
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The Margaret Mee Fellowship Programme was founded to enable botanical illustrators from Brazil to train in botanical illustration in the UK at Kew Gardens. Christobel King has been the main tutor for the artist scholars on the programme.
A number of them have gone on to develop successful careers which involve working as a professional botanical illustrator and/or teaching botanical illustration. Below is the list of Artist Scholars to date who have been funded by the programme.
20th century Artist Scholars (1989-2000)
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The names of the Artist Scholars on the wall of the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at Kew during the "Brazil - a powerhouse of plants" exhibition in 2016
21st century Artist Scholars (2001 - to date)
The Margaret Mee Fellowship Programme Artist Scholarship started again in 2015.
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Chile
Geraldine MacKinnon
An Artista Botánica - naturalista based in Santiago, Chile. She studied Fine Arts and Education at Universidad Católica de Chile. She is a Professor and Director of RBGE Botanical Illustration Course at the Institute of Geography Of the Catholic University of Chile and teaches in different places in Chile. She has been an Artist in Residence at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in Scotland (2012); National Museum of Natural History of Santiago (2016). Member of ASBA, the NTBG Florilegium Project and founding member of the Mujeres Naturalistas of Chile. Her works are found in museums, foundations and private collections in Chile, London, Edinburgh, Miami, New York and Kaua'i. She documents her work on Issuu.
An Artista Botánica - naturalista based in Santiago, Chile. She studied Fine Arts and Education at Universidad Católica de Chile. She is a Professor and Director of RBGE Botanical Illustration Course at the Institute of Geography Of the Catholic University of Chile and teaches in different places in Chile. She has been an Artist in Residence at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in Scotland (2012); National Museum of Natural History of Santiago (2016). Member of ASBA, the NTBG Florilegium Project and founding member of the Mujeres Naturalistas of Chile. Her works are found in museums, foundations and private collections in Chile, London, Edinburgh, Miami, New York and Kaua'i. She documents her work on Issuu.
Colombia
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Consuelo García (born 1945)
Main scientific illustrator for the Herbarium at the University of Antioquia for thirty years. Studied arts at the University and started as a draftsman in June 1985 and retired in December 2007. During this time she supported both botanical research and publication with her precise illustrations for catalogs, books, magazines and other academic publications. She was also a Teacher of Scientific Illustration and Watercolor in the Center of Extension, Promotion and Dissemination Artistic and Cultural, Faculty of Arts, University of Antioquia, from 2008 to date. |
Juan Pablo Vergara Galvis
b. Bogotá-Colombia. Studied Biology and Fine Arts. Illustrated for several specialised scientific publications in Colombia. Exhibited in Colombia, Cuba and Perú. Co-ordinated two botanical illustration contests including the first at the 8th latin American Botanical Congress at Cartagena de Indias-Colombia in 2002.The second one: a national contest to celebrate the 50th anniversary of "José Celestino Mutis" Bogotá's Botanical Garden foundation in 2005. Has taught botanical and zoological drawing since 2001. Created the "Virtual Scientific Illustration Community". Gives lectures on scientific illustration history and workshops about botanical drawing. |
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