Three Botanical Art Exhibitions in Scotland in September

There are three botanical art exhibitions in Scotland - two of which have already opened. 
​Here's a list of them

• SSBA 2nd Annual Exhibition - “The Colours of Nature”
• ​Art in Bloom: Biggar Botanical Art Exhibition
• ​RBGE Diploma in Botanical Illustration - Graduate Show (2016/17)

I'm even thinking it might be worth a train journey!

SSBA 2nd Annual Exhibition - “The Colours of Nature”

SSBA - The Colour of Nature Flyer

The first exhibition is The Colours of Nature. This is second Annual Exhibition of the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists. They held their Private View yesterday afternoon and the exhibition opens to the public today and continues until 22nd October.

​Venue: The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, FK8 2RQ.
Dates: Sunday 3rd September - Sunday 22nd October
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10.30am - 5pm; Sunday 2pm - 5pm
Admission: Free

There are two prizes:

• The 'Best in Show’ Award - determined by a panel of three expert judges.
• the People’s Choice Award - determined by those visiting the show and voting for the painting they like the best.  

The image on the flyer is a watercolour of a painting of a tulip by Victoria Braithwaite.

Part of the exhibition - after it was hung and before the PV guests and visitors arrived

We also have two Meet the Artists days, on Saturday 9th and Saturday 23rd September from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.(11.00 – 15.00) when two exhibiting artists will be on hand to talk to visitors about the paintings in the exhibition, and explain and demonstrate some of the painting techniques used in botanical art.  Visitors will also be able to see the paints, brushes, paper and other equipment used in our art, as well as view a painting ‘in progress’.

​Art in Bloom: Biggar Botanical Art Exhibition

Art in Bloom - the Flyer

This exhibition is by Biggar Botanical Artists (Facebook Page). It's an exhibition of contemporary botanical artwork by artists from Biggar and the surrounding area plus invited guest artists from further afield.

​Venue: Biggar & Upper Clydesdale Museum, 156 High Street, Biggar, ML12 6DH
Dates: 2nd September 2017 -29th September 2017
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm | Sunday 1pm - 5pm
Admission: Free

They are having open studio demonstration days on Wednesdays and Saturdays days on the following dates

• September 2nd, 6th and 9th
• September 13th and 16th
• September 20th, 23rd and 27th

'Open Table' days invite all visitors to join the artists who will be at the museum demonstrating how they do their work.
Pencils, paper, erasers, watercolours everything you will need to have a go will be there. It will be amazing what you can achieve when given the correct guidance! Don't worry though, there will be no pressure and it will be a laugh for everyone. Its free and fun tuition by qualified, award winning artists!

For those looking to emphasise what the art is all about, make a note of the fact that Biggar Botanical Artists had cupcakes with petals at their PV - which is a new one on me!

Cupcakes with petals!

​RBGE Diploma in Botanical Illustration - Graduate Show (2016/17)

Flyer for the RBGE Diploma Show of work by recent graduates of the Botanical Illustration Diploma Course.

Graduate Show - RBGE Diploma in Botanical Illustration (2016/17)
Venue: Fletcher Building, Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Dates: 9 - 17th September 2017
Hours: Open daily from 11am - 4pm.
Admission: Free

This is an exhibition of botanical artwork by the graduating diplomates of the RBGE Diploma Course in Botanical Illustration. It opens next Saturday - and I hope to do a further blog post about it once I've received photographs.

The paintings on the flyer are by Marianne Hazelwood.  You can see her very impressive work for the Diploma Course in Botanical Illustration at RBGE on her website:

• Year 1 work
• Year 2 work - which generated the work for the flyer for the exhibition.​

I very much RECOMMEND you take a look - and visit the exhibition too of course!  I've been very impressed by the quality of the artwork being produced by the RBGE diploma students in recent times - not least at the RHS Botanical Art Shows!