NEWS about Botanical Art and for Botanical Artists

Dates and venue for the RHS Botanical Art Show 2021

20/7/2021

Artists participating in the next RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show now have the dates and venue. These are:

VENUE: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road London SW3 4RY
DATES:
- Judging: Thursday 16 September
- Preview evening Friday 17 September (which I assume means the medals will be posted next to the artwork)
- Exhibition: Saturday 18 September – Sunday 3 October 2021 (just over two weeks)

The Saatchi Gallery (photo by Jim Linwood)

The RHS and Saatchi Gallery are working in partnership to present the show.
The Show is being hosted and staged by the Saatchi Gallery, in association with the RHS. (Note it's not yet listed on the Saatchi Gallery website)

The Gallery (not the artists) will

arrange for all artworks to be framed using a pale, simple, white-limed wood frame
will be hanging the artworks.

The Gallery is just off the King's Road in the heart of Chelsea and is a 3 minute walk from Sloane Square Station. Click the map to see Google Maps in more detail. Sloane Square Tube Station is on both the Circle and the District Lines.

The walk from Sloane Square Tube station to the Saatchi Gallery

I shall miss the intensity of the 2.5 days of the usual show - with all the artists in attendance - because it's only 3 days for them. Hopefully as many a possible will be there for the Preview evening and to pick up there Medal Certificate! I'm perplexed at the moment as to how I'm going to be able to interview all the Gold Medal Winners.

On the plus side, as it's going to be hung for much longer there's a much greater chance it will be seen my more people.

Also the location in Chelsea has presumably been chosen because it's near good public transport an also in the midst of where some of the people who buy such art actually live!

I'm unclear what's happening about the sale of cards and prints which often help to subsidise the costs of artists attending the exhibition. London is after all not a cheap place to stay!

CHANGE IN EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

Watch out for a blog post this week about a CHANGE in the email subscription service. You may be asked to resubscribe to the new service
(due to the demise of the Feedburner service provided by Google)

SELECTION MEETING FOR 2022 EXHIBITION

The Selection Meeting for the 2022 Exhibition took place on 8th July. I'd love to know who's going to be showing next year.....

It's unclear at the moment whether the exhibition will change dates again in 2022 or whether it will be in:

April - as originally planned for 2020
September - as now planned for 2021

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NEWS for botanical artists wanting to exhibit at the RHS Botanical Art Show in 2021 and 2022

13/5/2021

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This post is for TWO groups of botanical artists and illustrators and covers THREE topics:

Approved Botanical Artists & Illustrators - What's happening about:
- the RHS Botanical Art Show in 2021
- those botanical artists and illustrators whose approval to exhibit runs out in 2021 - but they have not yet exhibited.
New Botanical Artists & Illustrators - applying for selection to exhibit at the RHS Show in 2022 and beyond.

This is a top down view of the RHS Botanical Art Shown the Lindley Hall three years ago.

RHS London Botanical Art & Photography Show 2021

In 2020, the RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show in London was cancelled.

There is still no definite news or dates about this show and whether it will run in 2021. The very big and very airy Lindley Hall is currently being used for vaccinations.

However, every effort is being made to try and hold a Show and there are some updates from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

Following my last post on this topic - The next RHS Botanical Art Show (19 April 2021) -here's what's been confirmed by the RHS to date:

The RHS hopes to relocate the Botanical Art Show in 2021 to a well-known gallery in central London.
Any exhibitors that were due to exhibit at the RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show in 2020 will be contacted in due course regarding exhibiting in 2021.
Artists who were eligible to exhibit up until 2021 and have not had the opportunity to do so (due to cancellation of 2020 and uncertainty re 2021), will have a year added to the period they are "approved to Exhibit".
the Show now has a dedicated page on the RHS website - which says "Show Dates - to be confirmed" (see below). Personally I see this page as good news....

Nice to see it in writing!

Show dates to be confirmed

How to get selected for an RHS Botanical Art Show

The RHS Botanical Art Show is unique in that selection for the Show:

relates to the botanical artist - and whether they meet the required standard
does NOT require the submission of proposed artwork for the show.

In effect, it's an "In Principle" application - which provides the impetus for many botanical artists and illustrators to develop a unique project and a stunning exhibit in the hope of winning one of the coveted and extremely prestigious RHS Gold Medals.

This part of my post is therefore directed at all those Botanical Artists who want to exhibit at the RHS Botanical Art Show - but have NOT YET been approved to exhibit.

The Selection Panel, which meets to decide which artists are invited to exhibit (between 2022 - 2027), has its next meeting on Thursday 8 July 2021.

That means now is the time to submit an application!

Artists, either individuals or groups, that have not previously exhibited at an RHS Show, must first submit a sample of four pieces of work the RHS Botanical Art Judging Panel for assessment and approval at the Selection Meeting, to be able eligible to apply for space to display work at an RHS Show.

SUMMARY: what you need to do to be selected to exhibit between 2022 and 2027.

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The next RHS Botanical Art Show

19/4/2021

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I've had various people asking me about what I know about the next RHS Botanical Art Show. As we move gradually out of lockdown I've now contacted Charlotte Brooks who is the Secretary of the Picture Committee which organises the show (with the assistance of the Show Department)

So this is what I know. Some of this is Charlotte and some of this is me. So

(CB) means Charlotte is the source for what's said before this suffix
(RHS) means it's on the RHS website
(KT) means I'm the source - and for the most part my comments are complete speculation - grounded in some knowledge of how things work.

This blog post covers:

What's the date of the next RHS Botanical Art Show?
What's the date of the next Selection Meeting?
What else is happening?
More about the RHS Botanical Art Shows and how to exhibit

What's the date of the next RHS Botanical Art Show?

We are working to secure a venue and date for the 2021 London Botanical Art Show and we will publish information as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Exhibition of Botanical Art | RHS

There is no date set at the moment - for various reasons.

The RHS Lindley Hall is currently in use as a Vaccination Centre for the population of Westminster - and hence not available (CB).
- If this keeps going until all vaccinations are one this means that it's definitely not available before July (target for the vaccination of adults). (KT)
- It may be in use again in the early Autumn if they go for a booster vaccine for older people as has been discussed. (KT)
It's very unlikely that the Show will be held at the same time as any of the other RHS Shows (just because they NEVER seem to parallel run RHS Shows at different locations - and the RHS website tells you about planned dates for any RHS Shows (KT)
- there are gardens opening and RHS Shows planned for May, June, July, August and September (RHS) - and of course, any of these might need to be rescheduled if there were any further outbreaks....
- which suggests to me that October is probably the earliest a Botanical Art / Photography Show could be held in the Lindley Hall - if it is available (KT - pure speculation)
- one option might be to go back to its original timing of February (which was very popular) - in which case the earliest show would be in February 2022 (KT)
- I'm a big fan of the notion it goes back to including a Saturday as one of its days - as that always used to generate a LOT of visitors (see below) (KT)

RHS Botanical Art Show in February 2016

Controls on travel are likely to be very important to the success of the show. The RHS Botanical Art Show has always had a large number of international artists participating. The problem at the moment is there are very strict controls on who can go where - and this varies across the world (KT)

What's the date of the next Selection Meeting?

The Selection Meeting is when representatives of the Picture Committee review the applications to exhibit and decide who should get approval to exhibit at some point in the next five years.

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NEW PAGE: Talks, Lectures and Tours about Botanical Art & Illustration

25/3/2021

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Today, I've published a new page about Talks, Lectures and Tours about Botanical Art and Illustration.

You can find it in the menu of the EDUCATION section of my Botanical Art and Artists website

The New Page has two halves

Online Talks and Lectures
In Person Talks, Lectures and Tours

This is content which does NOT form part of an educational course or workshop.

I've created the new page for two reasons

First, I think not everybody is aware of the free and paid opportunities to access experts talking about botanical art and illustration. Hence I aim for this page to be a place where all alks, lectures and tours can be listed.
Second, we've seen an increase in the number of people and organisations which are now routinely delivering online content as videos by Zoom.

Online Talks and Lectures

Find out more about the online talks, lectures and demos being delivered by:

The Shirley Sherwood Collection (FREE)
Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library Talks (FREE)
Linnean Society Talks and Tours (modest PAID)
Julia Trickey Talks (PAID)
ASBA Annual Conference (PAID)

In Person Talks, Lectures and Tours

I will be including the following in this section and provide indications of what has been provided to date

Kew Gardens "Ask the Expert" (FREE)
Kew Gardens Tours
Lectures in The Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Kew Gardens
Lectures at the Lindley Library, RHS HQ, London

NOTE: Most of the in person events are suspended at the moment due to the Pandemic (and lockdown in the UK). Some are limited to members of Kew or the RHS or other specific groups.

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Nigel Pickering GM (1957 - 2021)

30/1/2021

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I met Dr. Nigel Pickering at the Private View of the last RHS Botanical Art Show in July 2019 and was very impressed with his exhibit. I came back the next morning and much as I had expected his exhibit - it had been awarded a Gold Medal

Dr Nigel John Pickering with his RHS Exhibit Treasures of the Richtersveld. This drawing is of a Pachypodium namaquanum, the iconic plant of the Richtersveld

Nigel John Pickering came to botanical illustration late in life. He was a qualified doctor who had worked as a General Practitioner, latterly at the of Malmesbury Primary Care Centre. On retirement he studied botanical illustration with Julia Trickey and subsequently joined the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society and Cirencester Botanical Artists.

I met Nigel when he showed for the first time at the RHS Botanical Flower Show in July 2019. I found out that he was very interested interested in botany, plants and conservation particularly in rare and unusual plants 'living on the edge'. (plants of mountains and desert regions). He'd travelled to South Africa for his exhibit of Treasures of the Richtersveld (in graphite and watercolour - in the tradition of Auriol Batten). The exhibit was both very unusual and very striking. He was awarded a well deserved RHS Gold Medal. I had every expectation he's be back with another exhibit as he had very obviously enjoyed the show and I was certainly looking forward to seeing his next exhibit.

He died on 14th January 2021 at home.

REFERENCE:

Gold Medal Succulent Art | British Cactus and Succulent Society - a thread by a member who was very impressed by the exhibit - it includes images of Nigel's work.

Treasures of the Richtersveld - RHS Gold Medal winning exhibit by Dr Nigel Pickering

The end of the show and time to pack up...

This is my third obituary for a botanical artist in the last two months - all relating to people who had been ill for some time - and two relate to artists who exhibited at that 2019 RHS Show.....

At this time of a pandemic, we must always remember that any death for any reason is always so very sad for those who are family and friends of the deceased. I send my condolences to Nigel's family and friends. By all accounts, he was somebody who was very much liked and appreciated by all those who knew him.

The funeral service is private and will be followed by a Memorial Service. Donations welcome for The Brain Tumour Charity or Dorothy House Hospice (see Death Notice)

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Remembering Janet Pope

20/11/2020

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Janet Pope with her medal winning exhibit at the RHS Botanical Art Show in 2019.

I learned last night that Janet Pope MA (RCA), DipAD, FLS, FSBA, CPFGS, IAPI has passed away.

Janet has been very seriously ill in recent years. When I met her with her Potatoes exhibit at the RHS Botanical Art Show in 2019 we had a very long chat. She knew full well that her condition was terminal and that she had limited time left - and she was VERY determined to make the most of it!

I remember being so very pleased for her that she could get to exhibit one of her favourite subjects at the prestigious RHS Botanical Art Show show - and win a medal. I took a photo of her to record the event - and I think both she and I knew I was very likely to use it in this sort of post.

Her extremely unusual and refreshing exhibit of Potatoes - shoots, roots, skin, flesh - Solanum tuberosum ( ‘Red Emmalie’, ‘Highland Burgundy Red’, ‘Pink Fir Apple’, ‘Violetta’, ‘Shetland Black’ and Salad Blue’. ) can be seen below - and on her website. She won an RHS Silver Medal for her exhibit

Potatoes - shoots, roots, skin, flesh - Solanum tuberosum - by Janet Pope (RHS Silver Medal 2019)

About Janet Pope

I know relatively little about Janet beyond her SBA biography, her website and what I've written about her in the past. She always seemed a very private person to me - but she was also a lovely person to get to know and talk to in the last few years.

Education and Work

Janet graduated from the Royal College of Art London in 1973, followed by a British Council Scholarship for 18 months to study traditional textile arts and crafts in Romania. Returning to England, she started a knitwear company, then a special-interest tour company, followed by a womens’ tailoring business. In 2009 Janet joined a local botanical painting class, which led to the SBA Distance Learning Diploma Course graduating in 2012, and her current interest in botanical painting.

Botanical Art and Illustration

Janet was an extremely skilled botanical artist. She had studied initially for a Diploma in Art and Design and then graduated from the Royal College of Art, London with an MA in 29173. She had also been awarded a British Council arts scholarship to to study traditional textile arts and crafts in Romania. On her return she demonstrated her entrepreneurial flair by establishing first a knitwear company, then a special-interest tour company, followed by a womens’ tailoring business.

Her interest in botanical art was stimulated by a local botanical painting class followed by the SBA's Distance Learning Diploma Course. She graduated from that in 2012

She lived and worked in rural Herefordshire where gardens, orchards and hedgerows provided her with an endless supply of plant material. Her botanical art was painted - with great attention to detail and growth habit - in watercolour.

She was also a

Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists;
an Artist Member of the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society - which is where I saw her last
a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (elected 2015) and
a member of the Institute for Analytical Plant Illustration.

Below I'm going to record Janet's achievements in the world of botanical art beyond her RHS Medal - and my photos of her exhibits. Janet was never ever one to boast - but I think she was secretly delighted when others recognised and publicly acknowledged her artwork and achievements - and it's in that spirit that I write this post.

Society of Botanical Art Awards and Certificates

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40th Anniversary of the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens

9/11/2020

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This is a lovely video about the activities of the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens. It was made to celebrate:

its 40th anniversary
the 30th anniversary of its certificate program.

I think it must be the oldest botanical art school in the world. I'm hard put to think of one which is older. (Any suggestions?)

Below is the video on the (public) Facebook Page for the SBAI but if you prefer to view on YouTube this is the link

The video highlights how the School is only the third group to win an RHS Gold Medal (in 2017) in the history of the Royal Horticultural Society - and I was extremely pleased to be able to photograph Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski, Ph.D., D.Sc. at the time. Mervi led the School as Manager for the last 13 years until her retirement earlier this year. Much of what I have admired about the School has been down to initiatives by Mervi.

I'm looking forward to meeting up with her again when Covid lets her husband and her embark on their retirement tour of Europe!

Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski, Ph.D., D.Sc. with the RHS Gold Medal winning exhibit

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REFERENCE LINKS: The School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens

If you'd like to know more about the School these links tell you a lot.

WEBSITE: https://www.botanicgardens.org/education/school-botanical-art-illustration
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/SchoolOfBotanicalArtAndIllustration/
BLOG: Botanical Illustration - which has always been open access in the past but now seems to be open to invited people only. (I'm rather surprised as I always thought his blog did the most amazing job of marketing both the school and its Diploma in Botanical Illustration and Foundation Certificate.

For educational organisations interested in submitting an exhibit to the RHS Botanical Art Show as a Group, can I refer you to:

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