Botanical Beauty in Richmond

Botanical Beauty opened last Saturday at the Riverside Gallery in Richmond and runs until April 1. 

• The aim of the exhibition is to showcase showcase contemporary British botanical illustration in a variety of styles and media
• Admission to the exhibition is free. 
• All artwork will be available for sale with prices ranging from £60 to £3,950.

An Invitation to submit work was sent to various organisations and artists so not exactly an open exhibition but not one associated with any specific organisation either - although the Orlean House Gallery in Richmond helped organise it.

Various artists sent me an invitation to the Private View! (For which many thanks!) However the PV was on Monday evening. This was while I was still recuperating from two and half days on my feet at the RHS last week. Plus I did a lengthy interview and a video that I did with Jess Shepherd on Monday - so a long trip over to Richmond in the evening and standing on feet which were about to give up the ghost held little appeal!

However I do fully intend to visit the exhibition while it's on as it has some top class artists exhibiting. Especially as my very nice Consultant Rheumatologist gave me an injection on Wednesday which has made me feel positively sprightly and almost pain-free!

There are 34 exhibitors in total. They're drawn from all over the country and also include local artists living in the south east and Richmond area. Some, such as Billy Showell, Ann Swan and Susan Christopher Coulson, are well known nationally. Other botanical artists include: Vivienne Cawson, Amber Halsall, Margaret Fitzpatrick, Fiona Kane, Nikki Simpson, Pamela Taylor, Josie White and Sue J Williams.

​They're exhibiting alongside photographers, textile and mixed media artists who do not normally specialise in this genre.  

Media used for artwork is diverse and includes watercolour, graphite, coloured pencil, pen and ink, acrylics, Digital botanical illustration, photography and some giclee prints as well as one embroidery and a 3D piece. 

Gallery: Old Town Hall, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond, TW9 1TP
Opening Hours are as follows:

• Monday:  9.30 - 7.00pm
• Tuesday: 9.30 - 6.00pm
• Wednesday: 10.00 - 7.00pm
• Thursday, Friday: 9.30 - 6.00pm
• Saturday: 9.30 - 4.00pm
• Sunday: closed

​Email: artsinfo@richmond.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8831 6000

Note: The illustration for the flyer about the show - at the top - is by Susan Christopher Coulson