Exhibiting with the RHS - on a tradestand

I'm going to be back at RHS Hyde Hall in early August for the RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show - (3-6 August 2017). This year it has an expanded Artists’ Pavilion featuring more exhibitors - including Janie Pirie GM SBA
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Botanical artists would be well advised to study the opportunities for exhibiting at the various RHS Flower Shows around the UK - but note that

• not all shows and events have scope for the exhibition of botanical art (on a trade stand)
• you have to apply for a stand well in advance of the show - there's a long lead time.
• the RHS then vet you - via the documentation and evidence of business standing you provide and your online presence.

Information for the RHS application form

Botanical artists can apply for a trade stand within the non-horticultural products category.  There are a range of tradestand sizes available and all exhibits are under cover - so you don't need to invest in a tent etc.  

This is the page which outlines how to apply for a tradestand

Artists who are new to the RGS Shows need to provide the following information:

• Details about your company and your products/services
• Details of how long you have been in business
• Any non-RHS events you have participated in
• Your website address
• Photographs of your products/services or stands at other non-RHS events
• Any other background information you may think is relevant

In other words, they are looking for relevant and reputable businesses run by experienced and business-like people - who can provide added value for visitors to their shows.  

These are NOT shows to go to and exhibit for the very first time - you need some experience in showing on your own elsewhere.  Like anything else in life don't apply for and pitch for "the best" before you are ready.

​​If you want to get to Chelsea you need to first exhibit at another RHS Show and provide documentation of what your stand looked like and what you sold - which essentially means you have to go to the non-Chelsea show with a standard of artwork and display "as if" you are exhibiting at Chelsea - if you want to impress!

Note also that "doing a show" is not for the faint-hearted and you will need back-up and support to deliver a good display and service on your stand.

You also need to note that the non-horticultural category is very much over-subscribed and hence you need to be able to demonstrate high quality and some aspect of being different from everybody else.

Tradestand selection critiera

Understanding what you need to do to apply is only the first step. You then need to know and meet the standards expected of your trade stand in terms of selection and being able to apply again! Plus what items are not allowed and what needs special permission.

The manual (for the recent Chatsworth Flower Show in June 2017) states the following:

Tradestand selection criteria
Applications with a well-planned and high quality stand will be given preference. The following criteria will be applied to the selection of tradestand exhibitions
* relevance and quality of the product
* suitability of the product for the theme of the show/show audience
* balance of product categories within the show
* Permanent business address, quality website, clear contact details
* Courteous, professional and friendly staff; sufficient staffing levels during show hours
* Good after-sales service including order fulfilment
* RHS Awards record & support for RHS Shows
* Absence of complaints made to RHS and compliance with RHS Regulations
* Prompt payment of show invoices
* Geographical relevance

There is also a Code of Conduct for all exhibitors which must be observed.

Plus they also rate all trade stands for the standard of exhibit presentation.

Botanical artists at RHS Flower Shows

Below are some of the botanical artists who have had trade stands at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. They include

• Linda Alexander ROI SBA (Facebook Page) - a botanical oil painter who has been exhibiting at RHS Chelsea since 2007. You can see a short video of what Main Avenue at RHS Chelsea is like re. the crowds on Linda's Facebook Page
• Ann Swan GM SBA (Facebook Page) - a botanical coloured pencil artist who has regularly exhibited at RHS Chelsea
• Bryan Poole RE - a botanical fine art printer (he produces etchings) who exhibited at RHS Chelsea between 2001 and 2008 - see The Telegraph article Chelsea Flower Show 2008: A cut above the competition

It's interesting that all the artists listed above

• pursue media for their botanical art which is NOT watercolour and
• they are all artists who are very experienced and have already achieved a lot in their art careers BEFORE they first exhibited at Chelsea. 

Linda Alexander ROI SBA at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2017 - her stand won a Three Star rating meaning this ranks as a high quality presentation

Recovering now from the Chelsea Flower Show. It was such a successful show despite the economic and political nervousness. What a lovely crowd, cheerful, positive and enjoying the sunshine and beautiful gardens. Loved every minute despite the long hours and sheer exhaustion of it all. What a privilege to be there.
Linda Alexander - on her Facebook Page

These are also artists whose work "sings out" from inside a booth to those walking up and down the pathways at a show. I know from having visited Chelsea during the show that a booth needs to be filled with original and colourful artwork to catch the eye of the very many visitors - and while you want to sell as much as you can, you also must not sell out fast and deplete your stand which needs to look good throughout the show!

​It's actually very much akin to having a solo art exhibition if you want to make a profit on the cost of having a trade stand - which is not cheap!

Bryan Poole at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2008

How to apply

The details of how to apply to exhibit at an RHS Show are provided on the Tradestand Non-Horticultural Page

Trade Stands

• RHS London Shows (throughout the year): biased towards horticultural products (except at the Botanical Art Show - which has trade stands by Botanical Art Educators and pop-up studios by artists). For more information please contact Exhibitor applications.
• RHS Malvern Spring Festival (May) / RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (early July) / RHS Flower Show Tatton Park (mid-July): email Louise Duckett about the opportunity for stands within the Pavilions.
• RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show: (early August) - new expanded Artists Pavilion - contact Hyde Hall events
• RHS Wisley Flower Show (early September) contact Wisley events 
• RHS Harlow Carr Flower Show (June): contact Harlow Carr events (no pavilion - which doesn't mean there won't be one in future!)
• RHS Rosemoor Flower Show: 2017 is the first ever show in the South West and there is nothing on page and it looks like there is nothing under cover in a pavilion - but try contacting Rosemoor events after the show in September and see whether they might be doing anything next year
• Malvern Autumn Show: Countryside Shopping Pavilion find out more details.

Botanical Art (Medal exhibition) - assessed by Picture Committee

• RHS London Botanical Art Show: Botanical Art and Photography. See my special page for those wanting to exhibit for medals. You must first contact the Picture committee with examples of your work. Once approved to exhibit by the picture panel, you have five years to prepare your display and exhibit. Enquiries about upcoming shows contact Exhibitor applications.