Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Botanical Art & Photography Exhibitions
The RHS Botanical Art Show is the TOP juried botanical art show in the UK - and the world!
No other show requires and displays
a minimum of six botanical artworks from each exhibiting botanical artist/illustrator.
The show always includes a significant number of international exhibitors
- mostly from from Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa.
No other show requires and displays
a minimum of six botanical artworks from each exhibiting botanical artist/illustrator.
The show always includes a significant number of international exhibitors
- mostly from from Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa.
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READ THIS PAGE to
FIND OUT "HOW TO":
LEARN ABOUT:
HOW TO VISIT the next Botanical Art and Photography Show
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Only artists who have been accepted by the Botanical Art Judging Panel are eligible to apply for space 
Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea - home of the new longer exhibition of botanical art and photography
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NOTE ABOUT IMAGES AND VIDEOS: Most of the images on this page relate to when the RHS Botanical Art Show was held in the RHS Lindley Hall in Victoria, London. This is because the new location of the Saatchi Gallery does not lend itself quite so much to getting a good view and sense of a number of the exhibits at once.
Banner Image: View of the RHS Botanical Art Show 2018 in the RHS Lindley Hall in London in July 2018. (Photo: Katherine Tyrrell)
Banner Image: View of the RHS Botanical Art Show 2018 in the RHS Lindley Hall in London in July 2018. (Photo: Katherine Tyrrell)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON OTHER PAGES OF THIS WEBSITE
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VIEW ARCHIVE:
RHS Botanical Art Shows 2007-2023 This includes:
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VIEW Exhibit Titles at RHS Botanical Art Shows - categorises the titles of past gold medal winning exhibits. You may be surprised at the result....
READ Tips from RHS Gold Medal Winners in the Education section. These include:
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RHS Botanical Art Show: How to Exhibit
IF YOU WANT TO EXHIBIT - below and on other pages you will find more information about:
RHS Shows: Regulations and Guidance - This tells you "How to be approved to exhibit" and "How to Exhibit"
- in a summary
- followed by more detail further down the page
SUMMARY: How to Exhibit at a RHS Botanical Art Show
SUMMARY INFORMATION
for Botanical Artists wanting to exhibit at RHS Botanical Art Show in 2024 and future years
for Botanical Artists wanting to exhibit at RHS Botanical Art Show in 2024 and future years
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INTRODUCTION: The RHS webpage about the Exhibition of Botanical Art aims to introduce you to everything you need to know to help you
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The RHS Picture Panel leads on the Botanical Art Shows (with the RHS Show Organisers)
Address: RHS Lindley Library, 80 Vincent Square, London SW1 2PE Telephone: 020 7821 3051 ANY QUERIES? Charlotte Brooks is the RHS Art Curator and the Botanical Art Judging Panel Secretary and can be contacted in relation to any queries via the email identified in the factsheet. |
Many people find it very difficult to find the information about the Botanical Art Exhibition on the RHS website.
- It's in the RHS Libraries Section as Exhibition of Botanical Art . Further information also below
- The tab sequence on the website is Education & Learning | Libraries | Exhibitions & events | Botanical art
MY SUMMARY of current information about exhibiting at the RHS Botanical Art Show.
Further information can be found further down this page and on other pages on this website.
Further information can be found further down this page and on other pages on this website.
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Who can exhibit:
You need to work hard to reach the standard of artwork required by the RHS just to be selected to exhibit.
A very high standard of work (equivalent at least to a Silver RHS medal) is required to be selected to display botanical illustration, judged by the RHS. Emphasis is placed primarily on botanical accuracy in combination with aesthetic appeal. Artists should present examples of their work that is of the highest quality and has been completed recently (and at least within 5 years). |
How to be "Approved to Exhibit":
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How to Display Your Botanical Art at
the RHS Botanical Art Show in 2024 & Future Years
the RHS Botanical Art Show in 2024 & Future Years
- Once approved to display, your eligibility to apply to exhibit lasts for five years.
- The RHS will invite you, on an annual basis, to apply for space to exhibit.
- Not everybody who is approved to exhibit can exhibit every year.
- You do not have apply for space until your exhibit is ready - but if not completed within 5 years you will have to apply to be "approved to exhibit" again.
- In 2023, priority was given to those newly approved in 2022 who had not exhibited before and those whose approval to exhibit had just one year left.
View of the RHS Botanical Art Show in February 2017
How to exhibit at the RHS Botanical Art Shows
RHS Regulation and Guidance
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The RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show exhibitor factsheet 2023/4 sets out all the rules and regulations and "how tos" READ MORE BELOW about - including my commentary on:
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Botanical Illustration is a genre of art that endeavours to faithfully depict and represent the form, colour and detail of a plant, identifiable to species level. |
PLUS Read more in Tips from RHS Gold Medal Winners
- which includes an outline of the different stages of the process
- which includes an outline of the different stages of the process
RHS Botanical Art Show 2018 - PREVIEW Evening (which tends to be quieter than the two full days)
Regulations and Guidance
#1. How to be "approved to exhibit"
A very high standard of work (equivalent at least to a Silver RHS medal) is required to be selected to display botanical illustration at a RHS show.
RHS Botanical Art Show Exhibitor Factsheet 2023
BOTANICAL ART AND ARTISTS RECOMMENDS - PLAN AHEAD!
Planning to exhibit at the RHS is completely unlike any other Open Exhibition.
You have to start preparing between 1 and 6 years before the date you want to exhibit.
Artists may submit their works to the Lindley Library by Tuesday 5th September 2023
to be "approved to exhibit" between 2024-2029
Planning to exhibit at the RHS is completely unlike any other Open Exhibition.
You have to start preparing between 1 and 6 years before the date you want to exhibit.
Artists may submit their works to the Lindley Library by Tuesday 5th September 2023
to be "approved to exhibit" between 2024-2029
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To be able to exhibit you must first be "APPROVED TO EXHIBIT" by the RHS Picture Panel. In other words your botanical artwork must be formally assessed to see if it meets the standard for exhibition.
Once you are "approved to exhibit" you then have five years to APPLY FOR SPACE TO EXHIBIT at a specific exhibition - otherwise you have to be assessed and approved again. This is because the Picture Panel recognises that many botanical art projects often take two to three years to complete - and life has the habit of "intervening" too.. READ
Getting approval to submit involves submitting work to the Picture Committee by the deadline for submission.
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Selection of New Exhibitors for the 2024 RHS Botanical Art Show
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RECOMMENDED: Contact the relevant personnel listed in the Factsheet with any detailed queries - emails and telephone numbers are included. The email address for both submission and show enquiries are detailed on the RHS webpage.
Quotations are from the RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show Exhibitor Factsheet 2023 unless otherwise indicated.
#2 The Selection Meeting - the approval process by the RHS
The RHS Picture Panel will meet this year on Wednesday 13 September 2023
- This meeting considers submissions from artists wanting to be "approved to exhibit" in the next five years (2024-2029)
- Successful applicants MAY then be able to exhibit at the 2024 exhibition.
- It all depends on
- the competition for space from previously approved artists approved prior to 2023
- how many are approved to exhibit at this meeting
- how many artists are coming to the end of their five years
The Selection Meeting: Submissions (4 artworks per artist) laid on the long table in the RHS Council Chamber. Reviewing a submission left to right Charlotte Brooks, Helen Allen and Dr Shirley Sherwood
WHAT THE JUDGES LOOK AT
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UK ARTISTS:
ARTISTS BASED OUTSIDE THE UK:
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HOW THE JUDGES DECIDE WHO SHOULD BE "APPROVED TO EXHIBIT"
Selection criteria |
Emphasis is placed primarily on botanical accuracy in combination with aesthetic appeal. Artists should present examples of their work that is of the highest quality and has been completed in recent years (and at least within 5 years) |
#3 What to exhibit
Botanical illustration emphasises the depiction of accurate botanical information with aesthetic appeal and should document the anatomical and functional aspect of a plant throughout its lifecycle. Artists are strongly advised to paint from living plant specimens and to make use of photographs for reference only.
Exhibiting at RHS Shows
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Below are images of the"Best Exhibits" at four RHS Botanical Art Shows in the Lindley Hall (2015-2018)
Key points about exhibits Commonalities that I can observe are that:
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SEE MORE IMAGES OF PAST SHOWS BOTANICAL ART AND ARTISTS RECOMMENDS Become very familiar with the standard of Gold Medal winning artwork. You can see more images of exhibits in past shows in
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Best Exhibit 2018: "Wild Roses in Japan" by Michie Yamada (Japan)
Best Botanical Art Exhibit 2017: Pandanus by Mariko Ikeda (Japan)
Best Exhibit 2016: Tillandsias by Mariko Aikawa (Japan) - this photo shows four of the six large paintings
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BOTANICAL ART AND ARTISTS RECOMMENDS
THEME
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EXHIBIT TITLES BOTANICAL ART AND ARTISTS RECOMMENDS - VIEW Exhibit Titles at RHS Botanical Art Shows This dedicated page CATEGORISES and HIGHLIGHTS Exhibit Titles used by botanical artists who have won RHS Gold Medals in recent years MOST Gold Medal winning exhibits fall into just two of the categories! |
Best Exhibit (Feb) 2015: Climbing Plants by Kumiko Takano (Japan)
#4 Visit the Show BEFORE you decide your theme or start your project
RHS Botanical Art Show 2017 - Saturday 25th February
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BOTANICAL ART AND ARTISTS RECOMMENDS: I very much RECOMMEND that all those who aspire to become approved and then exhibit at an RHS Botanical Art Show should VISIT AND check out the show if at all possible
Like any other open exhibition or art competition, visiting the show to take a look at the standard of the work and how work is presented pays dividends for those who do their homework. |
WARNING! Standards seem to rise every year. Concepts for exhibits also get every more adventurous - both literally and metaphorically.
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For those who are unable to get to the show, do
- take a look at my blog posts (SEE ARCHIVE: RHS Botanical Art Shows 2007-2023) and also
- view my BOTANICAL ART VIDEOS on YouTube (see examples above and below)
#5 How to apply for a space at a SPECIFIC RHS Exhibition of Botanical Art
Only artists who have been accepted by the Picture Panel are eligible to apply for space.
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You can only apply for space in an RHS Botanical Art Show IF:
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Demand for space may mean that it is not possible to accommodate all of the artists who apply for space.
If this is the case, selection criteria will be employed taking into consideration previous exhibition and medal history. (i.e it is very helpful to get the best medal possible the first time you exhibit. For the 2023 Exhibition, the Picture Panel gave priority to
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How to apply for "space to Exhibit"
Use the online application form emailed by the RHS Shows Department to eligible artists.
Contact details for eligible artists are automatically sent to the RHS Shows Department following acceptance by the Botanical
Art Judging Panel. It is however entirely up to artists to ensure that:
Use the online application form emailed by the RHS Shows Department to eligible artists.
Contact details for eligible artists are automatically sent to the RHS Shows Department following acceptance by the Botanical
Art Judging Panel. It is however entirely up to artists to ensure that:
- the Secretary is kept informed of any changes to their contact details by emailing picturecommittee@rhs.org. uk, and that
- only one email address is supplied for use for show correspondence.
RHS London Botanical Art Show 2016 - with the new display boards - on the Saturday
#6 How to present your botanical artwork and exhibit (2023-future)
All artists must display six pieces of botanical illustration presented on a coherent theme.
The choice of subject is left to the exhibitor.
RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show exhibitor factsheet 2023/4
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EXHIBIT FRAMED AND HUNG IN A GALLERY
Since the RHS Botanical Art Show moved to the Saatchi Gallery, the artwork has been hung on walls in the two ground floor Galleries used by the Show.
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HOW MUCH SPACE for your exhibit?
The display must fit into the allotted space
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View of RHS Botanical Art Show 2023 in Gallery 1 at the Saatchi Gallery
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ARTWORK FOR EXHIBITION
Most artwork is in colour. Most artwork is completed using either watercolour or coloured pencil. However there is no requirement as to media used although preferences as to supports are stated (see below). Theme / Topic (see the separate page for Exhibit Titles at RHS Botanical Art Shows - which categorises the titles of past gold medal winning exhibits. All artists must display six pieces of botanical illustration presented on a coherent theme. Age
Artwork should have been produced recently and certainly within the last 5 years. Size
Artwork should be life size if not, a scale bar must be evident on the picture. Subject Matter
Artists are strongly advised to paint from living plant specimens and to make use of photographs for reference only. Supports
Artwork should be on white or off-white material – paper or vellum only. MOUNTED ARTWORK Artwork must be supplied mounted, in accordance with dimensions agreed between the Botanical Art Secretary, Saatchi Gallery and the Artist. See Rules and Regulations for Exhibiting AND Layout and Images Summary When planning a display, artists are recommended to pay attention to the window size through which the picture will be seen, as well as the external measurements. |
ARTIST BOARD / SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The amount of text which artists can provide has been much reduced since the location of the show switched to the Saatchi Gallery. The emphasis is now much more on "exhibition" and much less on "educational". The number of words to describe the exhibit is now VERY limited. As a result, we no longer see the very informative narratives about the project which accompanies many exhibits in the past Label Text The label text is considered as part of the overall presentation of the exhibit. Artist's Board
Each exhibit will be accompanied by an ‘Artists’ Board’ detailing the following: Labels for each artwork
There is NO SCOPE to highlight anything specific about each individual exhibit. To my mind this is a serious omission - but these are the rules In addition, (the) artist must supply the wording for individual picture labels, with the correct full Latin name of the plant depicted, date of the artwork and medium. Naming of Plants
To reflect botanical accuracy of the exhibit, all artwork must be:
- Genus and species should be in italics. STAGING All artists need to advise the organisers of how their exhibit should be presented. (This overlaps with the above requirements) - The orientation of each picture (landscape/ portrait) |
#6 How botanical artwork is judged at the RHS Show
Gold medals are only awarded to displays of outstanding and consistent excellence.
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There are four types of Royal Horticultural Society Medal available for awards to exhibits. These are:
In addition, THREE additional awards have been made in recent years if an exhibit merits them:
See ARCHIVE: RHS Botanical Art Shows 2007-2023 for posts which highlight these medals and awards and the artists who won them. |
The Judging Panel currently includes experienced practising botanical artists and teachers, botanists, an art collector, horticultural experts and garden writing editors.
The aim is to achieve the right combination of skills.
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Judging Criteria for RHS Botanical Art Medals
This section comes in two parts - in terms of:
This section comes in two parts - in terms of:
- official guidance issued re 2020 Show - which summarises the Judging Criteria to date.
- official guidance issued for 2022 Selection Meeting - where the NEW JUDGING CRITERIA are spelt out
Whether or not you get the plant name correct - and write the Latin correctly - actually matters a lot!
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Judging Criteria (2020)
The headings for the Judging Criteria for Shows in the Lindley Hall were described as follows in the 2020 Factsheet as follows: Quality of Botanical Illustration
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Panel explaining the assessment criteria at the RHS London Botanical Art Show 2017
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You can also read how botanical art is judged and what colour of medal is awarded in two of my blog posts published in 2018
RHS Botanical Art Show 2015 (27th - 28th February 2015) . This was the first ever show in the Lindley Hall completely dedicated to Botanical Art - however exhibition has now moved to the Saatchi Gallery and the artwork is framed for a three week exhibition
BOTANICAL ART AND ARTISTS RECOMMENDS: Those aspiring to exhibit at RHS Botanical Art Shows should
- pay particular attention to the Judging Criteria
- BEFORE making a choice as to the plants / theme for their exhibit and designing and creating it.
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As from 2022, The Selection Meeting Factsheet provided much clearer guidance on the Judging Criteria as follows.
This is the RHS Botanical Art& Photography Show exhibitor Factsheet 2023 The subtitles in capitals are mine. BOTANICAL ARTWORK 1. Drawing skills
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PLANTS
5. Botanical details
EXHIBIT OVERALL / PRESENTATION Balance of exhibit
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JUDGES FEEDBACK TO ARTISTS
#7 How to win an RHS Gold Medal
Tips from RHS Gold Medal winners
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My dedicated TIPS page Tips from RHS Gold Medal Winners also provides a wealth of useful information - including tips from artists like Annie Hughes, Işık Güner, Julia Trickey, and Esmee Winkel - who have won multiple Gold Medals.
Tips cover:
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BELOW is a Video Interview by Katherine Tyrrell - interviewing Denise Ramsay after winning an RHS Gold Medal for her botanical art exhibit of "A Brilliant Life - Papaver Orientale" at the RHS Show in the Lindley Hall, London on 22nd October 2014.
The complete suite of works exhibited are now owned by Dr Shirley Sherwood - and have subsequently been exhibited at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at Kew
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Below is the book written by Charlotte Brooks, the Secretary to the RHS Picture Panel and the Curator of Art at the RHS Lindley Library.
Botanical Illustration from the Royal Horticultural Society: The Gold Medal Winners
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Contents include:
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Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: ACC Art Books Publication date: 26 Jun. 2019 ORDER THIS BOOK |
from Amazon.comHOW TO VISIT:
The RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show 2024
This provides notes about future shows - to the extent these have been announced.
It also contains notes about past shows and where these were held
It also contains notes about past shows and where these were held
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The RHS Botanical Art & Botanical Photography Show 2024 will be held at the Saatchi Gallery over a period of c. 3 weeks in 2024. (Dates to be announced - likely to be some time in the Spring or Summer)
It now is much more of an exhibition and much less like of the very popular event at which botanical artists from all over the world gathered together to meet one another. Hopefully the community aspect will be resurrected at some point in the future. |
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Botanical illustration emphasises the depiction of accurate botanical information with aesthetic appeal and should document the anatomical and functional aspect of a plant through its lifecycle. Artists are strongly advised to paint from living plant specimens and to make use of photographs for reference only. |
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The Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea - new home of the annual RHS Botanical Art Show
History of Venues and Timing
In the past, The RHS Botanical Art Shows have been held in:
- London at
- The Horticultural Halls in Victoria, London - initially the Lawrence Hall but latterly mainly in the RHS Lindley Hall (until 2019 - as seen in the VIDEO BELOW). The main Botanical Art Show used to be held on two days generally between February and April.
- (since 2021) The Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, London - and the exhibition was extended to three weeks. However this switch lost the community event that previous shows - and botanical artists - had very much enjoyed when visitors got to meet the artists.
- Malvern (up until 2018) This was a small show at RHS Malvern Spring Festival Show in May. Judging and medals are, in theory, just the same. However those who have viewed both commonly consider competition has been more intense in London. i.e. a Gold Medal won at London is a major achievement!
READ about
- RHS Past RHS Botanical Art Shows 2007-2023 - what was exhibited, who was exhibiting and who won which award and medal! Plus images of the exhibitions
- Exhibit Titles at RHS Botanical Art Shows - the titles of past gold medal winning exhibits have been categorised. You may be surprised at the result....
- RHS Botanical Photography Shows - tap the link to find out more on this site
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