The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art in the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
was the first gallery in the world to be dedicated to botanical art.
This page is about the CURRENT and FUTURE exhibitions at the Gallery
and provides access to the ARCHIVE
about the development of the collection and gallery and information about past exhibitions since 2008
was the first gallery in the world to be dedicated to botanical art.
This page is about the CURRENT and FUTURE exhibitions at the Gallery
and provides access to the ARCHIVE
about the development of the collection and gallery and information about past exhibitions since 2008
I would advocate the holding of small exhibitions, changed every six months, of fine illustrated botanical books and original drawings. It ought not to be too difficult to find space in one of the museums in Kew Gardens; and the Natural History Museum has the materials for something even more impressive on similar lines
Wilfrid Blunt writing in The Art of Botanical Illustration (Chapter 22) in 1950
PAST EXHIBITIONSThis is a link to the ARCHIVE PAGE covering:
Opening Day at the new Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 19th April 2008
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS10th October - 12 April 2026
These exhibitions explore India's colonial history and the cultural, religious, and economic significance of plants, featuring both historical and contemporary works Galleries 1–4: Flora Indica See the first-ever public display of 52 rediscovered botanical illustrations from the Kew Archives. Painted by Indian artists between 1790 and 1850 for British botanists, these exquisite works reveal a rich cross-cultural legacy of art and science. Gallery 5: Singh Twins: Botanical Tales and Seeds of Empire Explore the renowned Singh Twins’ stunning fabric light boxes illuminate the intricate links between botany, empire, and trade. Explore how plants like cotton, spices and dyes shaped economies, identities and global exchange. |
Gallery 6: A celebration of India's rich diversity
Discover contemporary botanical masterpieces from the Shirley Sherwood Collection that together explore India's rich biodiversity. Journey from the coconut palms and banana groves of the tropical south to the rhododendron forests of the Himalayan north - each artwork a feast of colour, detail and discovery. 
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FUTURE EXHIBITIONS
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As and when announcements are made about future exhibitions, I will include what details are known on this page
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2026
9 May to 27 September 2026 Henry Moore Monumental Nature Opening next May there is an exhibition by Henry Moore in the garden and gallery. Not very botanical! |
Current Exhibitions in 2025
Galleries 1–4: Flora Indica
“Flora Indica” is about recovering the lost histories of Indian botanical art. Kew owns over 7,500 illustrations that document the flora of South Asia, commissioned by the British East India Company and created entirely by Indian artists. Painted by Indian artists between 1790 and 1850 for British botanists, these exquisite works reveal a rich cross-cultural legacy of art and science.
This is the first ever 52 rediscovered botanical illustrations from the Kew Archives. They used to be dispersed among the collections according to botanical sequence but have been recently reassembled into their original collections.
“Flora Indica” is about recovering the lost histories of Indian botanical art. Kew owns over 7,500 illustrations that document the flora of South Asia, commissioned by the British East India Company and created entirely by Indian artists. Painted by Indian artists between 1790 and 1850 for British botanists, these exquisite works reveal a rich cross-cultural legacy of art and science.
This is the first ever 52 rediscovered botanical illustrations from the Kew Archives. They used to be dispersed among the collections according to botanical sequence but have been recently reassembled into their original collections.
- They highlight the named artists who created them and the places they are associated with.
- There is also a book by Henry Noltie.
Gallery view of part of Singh Twins: Seeds of Empire and Botanical Tales
Gallery 5: Singh Twins: Botanical Tales and Seeds of Empire - the intricate links between botany, empire, and trade.
The exhibition by the the renowned Singh Twins’ comprises "a body of largely new, richly detailed light box artworks inspired by Kew's collections and the wider story of botany. Specifically how the British Empire amassed a wealth of economic botany through the hunting, cultivating and trade in plants - including cotton, spices and dyes - which the botanists at Kew were directly involved in. Explore how plants like cotton, spices and dyes shaped economies, identities and global exchange. It's a Masterclass in telling stories of history - with nothing left out and is very educational for both adults and children.
The exhibition by the the renowned Singh Twins’ comprises "a body of largely new, richly detailed light box artworks inspired by Kew's collections and the wider story of botany. Specifically how the British Empire amassed a wealth of economic botany through the hunting, cultivating and trade in plants - including cotton, spices and dyes - which the botanists at Kew were directly involved in. Explore how plants like cotton, spices and dyes shaped economies, identities and global exchange. It's a Masterclass in telling stories of history - with nothing left out and is very educational for both adults and children.
Artwork by living Indian botanical artists
Gallery 6: A celebration of India's rich diversity
Discover contemporary botanical masterpieces from the Shirley Sherwood Collection that together explore India's rich biodiversity and extensive range of climate regions. Journey from the coconut palms and banana groves of the tropical south to the rhododendron forests of the Himalayan north - each artwork a feast of colour, detail and discovery. The exhibition includes sections on the Himalayas and Indian crops.
Discover contemporary botanical masterpieces from the Shirley Sherwood Collection that together explore India's rich biodiversity and extensive range of climate regions. Journey from the coconut palms and banana groves of the tropical south to the rhododendron forests of the Himalayan north - each artwork a feast of colour, detail and discovery. The exhibition includes sections on the Himalayas and Indian crops.
Past Exhibitions
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The ARCHIVE page:
Links in the title of the exhibitions generally go to the dedicated exhibition page (if it still survives) and more often to the related press release issued at the time. |
In April 2018, the Shirley Sherwood Gallery celebrated its 10th Anniversary
In September 2018, the Gallery welcomed its 1,000,000th visitor!
The Gallery is now 17 years old |