Introducing the Botanical Artists in the RHS Botanical Art Show 2025

The RHS Botanical Art Show opens at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, London on 13th June.  Below you can find out which artists are exhibiting in this year's show and what their exhibits are about.

For those interested in exhibiting with the RHS in future years, this is the 2025 Artists' Guide to Exhibiting.

This year’s exhibits highlight the deep connection between plants and people, highlighting their significance in our everyday lives and demonstrating the enduring relevance of botanical art.

Exhibiting artists and their exhibits

The botanical artists exhibiting in the 2025 show are

• listed in order of their country (after the UK) and then alphabetically
• group exhibits are listed at the end

• ​Links to their website or Instagram site are embedded in their names.
• I've indicated for each artist whether they are a previous exhibitor or a first timer.

It's important to note - as I have been saying for years - that there comes a time when only getting a Silver Medal at RHS will mean there will be no guarantee that you'll get a second chance to exhibit at RHS. Which is WHY it's very important the first time you exhibit to present your very best work. I think we've maybe reached that point.

In 2025, there are a mix of people who are

• previous Gold Medal Winners,
• artists who have previously won a Silver Gilt Medal and
• those who are first time exhibitors.

UK Exhibitors

Bernard F Carter Previous exhibitor (2012, 2017 + Best Botanical Art Exhibit, 2019)
Spines and Thorns

Bernard F. Carter is a self-taught botanical artist and illustrator who lives near Falmouth in Cornwall.  In the past he has usually exhibited at either NEC Birmingham or Malvern. He has a photographic background, but has spent much of his working life as a Botanical Artist and Illustrator. He has had studios in various public venues including Lands End and Morwellham Quay. He was a founding member of the Eden Florilegium Society. In 1990 his book "The Floral Birthday Book was published - after 378 paintings were completed within a 10 month period.  He won a Silver Gilt Medal at his last exhibition in 2019.

Jarnie Godwin (previous exhibitor - 2021)
Tulipa - Species and Botanical Class Tulips

​Jarnie Godwin was previously awarded a Silver Gilt Medal for her paintings of Echinacea at the 2021 show (see two of her paintings exhibited in that show below.)

She is a self-taught botanical artist and has also been a a teacher, a graphic designer, and received a formal training in Architecture. Jarnie has been awarded an RHS Silver-Gilt medal for her series of Echinacea watercolours. Her work is found in both private and public collections, including the prestigious Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh. In 2023 her first book, ‘Vibrant Botanical Painting’ was published by The Crowood Press.

Two paintings by Jarnie Godwin exhibited in the 2021 show.

Mayumi Hashi GM (2005 and 2007) Previous exhibitor
Magnolias native to Japan and China

Mayumi was born in Japan but has lived in South London for many years. She started studying botanical illustration in 1996 and was taught by Kew Illustrator Dr. Judi Stone. She has two RHS gold medals plus three Silver-Gilt Medals and one Silver Medal.

In May 2006, she became the first recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society Dawn Jolliffe Botanical Art Bursary and went to Peru to photograph, draw and paint orchids.  She exhibited at the 12th International at the Hunt in 2007.  She has a particular interest in contributing to florilegia. She is an active member of the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society where she is the Membership Secretary.   Her botanical artwork is included in the Highgrove Florilegium, the Transylvania Florilegium, RBG Sydney Florilegium, the RHS Lindley Library (group exhibit), the Hunt Institute and the Royal College of Physicians where she was artist in residence. 
​
I'd be very, very surprised if Mayumi does not win another Gold Medal!

Magnolia obovata © Mayumi Hashi

Surjit Ghaley Riyait first time exhibitor
The Life Cycle Aesculus hippocastanum

Surjit was born in Nairobi, Kenya and graduated in Graphic Design from the University of Nairobi before moving to live in Leicester. He became interested in botanical art in 2010 and is particularly interested in observing all the minutiae of the botany of a plant.

Juliet Rowse first time exhibitor
Helleborus orientalis from The National Collection at Hadlow College, Kent

Juliet has a longstanding interest in art. Her career pursued a practical applications after she got her degree in Printed Textile Design. Work involved designing furnishing fabric collections and interior design. However she went back to art some years and then began botanical painting. 

Pauleen Trim GM (2021)
EXHIBIT: A year in the life of six deciduous trees and their galls

I'm assuming this is a continuation of her project on trees as Pauline Trim previously won, as a first time exhibitor:

• an RHS Gold Medal in 2021 for her exhibit of Native British Deciduous Trees featuring Galls and
• the Best Botanical Painting award for her painting of Fraxinus excelsior (Ash tree) - which is now in the RHS Lindley Library Collection.

She took up botanical art on retirement after teaching art and design for 25 years at Bournemouth College and 11 years teaching painting and drawing for the Dorset Adult Education Service. She is a Fellow of the SBA and a member of South West Society of Botanical Artists and the Hilliard Society of Miniature Painters. She is also a Tutor and Assessor on the SBA Distance Learning Diploma. She has exhibited widely and won a number of awards for her work.

I expect Pauline will probably be awarded another Gold Medal.

Prunus spinosa © Pauleen Trim

INDONESIA

Eunike Nugroho GM (2023) Previous exhibitor and awardwinner
Hoyas of Indonesia
(Instagram)

Eunike is a busy lady. She is full time mother and a part time botanical illustrator and artist who is based in Yogyakarta in Indonesia. She has:

• exhibited at the Hunt's 15th International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration (2016). 
• won an RHS Gold Medal for Hoyas Of Indonesia 
• won the RHS Best Botanical Artwork Award in 2023 for Hoya Latifolia G.Don. / Bold under (Sun) Stress
• delivered commissioned artwork for a large range of clients.

She also founded the Indonesian Society of Botanical Artists.

As many botanical artists do, Eunike is exhibiting six more of her paintings related to her special project on Hoyas of Indonesia. Below you can see her with her exhibit and also accepting her award for best botanical painting in 2023.

I fully expect to see her awarded another Gold Medal.

Eunike Nugroho accepting her "Best Botanical Artwork" award at the RHS Botanical Art Show 2023 from Charlotte Brooks RHS Art Curator (June 2023)

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A post shared by Eunike Nugroho (@inikeke)

JAPAN

Hideko Kamashita - previous exhibitor (2017, 2019)
Flowering Cherries in Japan

​She studied painting under the guidance of Mr Toshio Nishimura. She won the National Museum of Nature and Science Director's Award in 2010 and 2017. She also won a Gold Medal and the Best in Show Award at BISCOT in 2018. The Japanese love flowering cherries and I can well understand why a Japanese artist would want to portray these.

​She will be an artist I expect to be a contender for a Gold Medal.

Hideko Kamoshita with her painting of Cirsium vulgare which won a Gold Medal and Best in Show at BISCOT in 2018

Kyoko Uchiyama First time exhibitor
Ohga Lotus cultivated from a seed after 2,000 years slumber

Kyoko is a botanical artist and a graphic designer living in Japan. She received the Tpkyo Shimbun Award at the Japan Gardening Society Botanical Art Exhibition in 2019.
Her image has been chosen by Saatchi as its feature image for marketing the exhibition at the gallery.

Kyoko Uchiyama, Nelumbo Nucifera

KOREA

Hee-Soon Baik SBAF First time exhibitor
Plants connected to human survival

Hee-Soon lives in Korea. She completed her SBA Diploma course in 2020 and became a Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists in 2024.. She has previously exhibited in SBA'S Plantae Exhibitions in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.  She also won the Korean National Arboretum Director General's Award at the Botanical Art Worldwide Exhibition in Korea (at the Korea National Arboretum) in 2018. 

​I'd characterise her as one of those artists I've been expecting to see at RHS.

She's also one of the artists in the Group of Korean Artists exhibiting at the show (see end of this listing)

SOUTH AFRICA

Julie Ah-Fa First time exhibitor
EXHIBIT: Endemic dombeyoide of Réunion Island, exploring the "Mahots' and "Bois de Senteur"

Julie is a French artist from Réunion Island, and now lives in South Africa. She is a member of the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa. She discovered her passion for botanical art there, and her work is featured in the new Grootbos Florilegium. Her aim is to raise awareness of Réunion's fragile and unique flora.
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/julieahfa/​

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A post shared by Julie Ah-Fa botanical artist (@julieahfa)

SPAIN

Manuel Saro First time exhibitor
Pinus sylvestris. From the forest of Guadarrama National Park. Madrid

Manuel studied art at the University of Madrid, and then started to exhibit artworks in galleries in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium. 

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A post shared by Manuel Saro (@thedrawingardener)

USA

Susan Tomlinson previous exhibitor (2022)
More than a Fluffy White Ball: the surprising diversity of commercial cotton cultivars

Susan Tomlinson is an Associate Professor in the Honors College of Texas Tech University.  She has been awarded a Silver-Gilt Medal in 2022 for her first exhibit of cotton boll series and one of her paintings of the development of cotton bolls of different cultivars is now in the Hunt Institute where it was exhibited last year.  This is a major project and she is also working on a book on the topic - so more to come in future I hope! 

I first came across Susan following a detailed online discussion about eyewear for botanical art. see Prescribing eyeglasses for botanical art - which is a recommended read!

I count Susan as a friend and was extremely miffed when I couldn't get to see her with her paintings in 2022 because I was relearning how to walk after my ankle fusion. This year, she has a health issue which needs addressing and won't be travelling and I'm (hopefully) back in surgery again for a shoulder replacement at some point. So I'll be taking pics and sending them to her - although they might be taken with one hand!

I'm very much hoping that this year I'm also going to be photographing a Gold Medal Certificate!

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A post shared by Susan Tomlinson (@susan_tomlinson_botanical_art)

Group Exhibits

Korean Society of Botanical Art and Illustration First time exhibitor
​Traditional Cosmetic Plants of Korean Women

The Korean Society of Botanical Art and Illustration is a newly formed organisation. This exhibit features the work of five artists within the organisation. It's a pity that the information released doesn't say who the artists are.

(I have to confess I cannot keep up with the names of the various botanical art organisations in Korea which seem to change their name on a regular basis. Or maybe it's just the translation?)

Ricinus communis (Castor bean) © Hee Soon Baik

More about the exhibition

RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show is open as follows:
AT: Galleries 1, 2 and 3 at the Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London, SW3 4RY 
From: Daily between 13th June -27th July 2025
​Hours: 10am - 6pm
Admission: Free entry with a suggested donation of £5. Pre-booking is not required.
Plan Your Visit to the Gallery

The Gallery is a short walk from Sloane Square Tube Station.