An Exhibition of Botanical Art
We are delighted to be welcoming the Horsham School of Botanical Artists to Parham for two weeks in July. The seven experienced artists will be staging a two-week exhibition of drawings and paintings in the Seed Room. The exhibition will take its theme from the work of the pioneering botanist and explorer, Sir Joseph Banks.
Here, we introduce each artist, who’s work you will be able to see and enjoy when visiting from the 6th to 17th July.
Leigh Ann Gale
A professional botanical artist, tutor, and author, Leigh Ann took up botanical illustration following a move to Sussex. With an extensive portfolio built over a number of years, Leigh Ann’s work has been awarded numerous medals and has been exhibited extensively around the world. As a member of The Horsham School of Botanical Artists, Leigh Ann has recently played a pivotal role in establishing the newly formed Florilegium at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in Sussex. Teaching botanical art has become a passion for Leigh Ann. She tutors a wide range of botanical art and illustration courses and workshops from her home near Horsham, and at various locations throughout the Southeast. With her wealth of experience, she is known for her encouraging and supportive approach to teaching students of all abilities and is a highly regarded mentor and adviser on the art of botanical painting.
To discover more about Leigh Ann, please visit her website www.la-botanicalart.co.uk or social media www.facebook.com/leighanngalebotanicalart
Suzanne Merrikin
Suzanne combines her love of painting with growing many of her own subjects in her Sussex garden. She studied botanical illustration at Flatford Mill under Mary Grierson, the Kew Illustrator, and was taught and inspired by Jill Coombs the doyenne, of the Horsham School of Botanical Artists. She also holds the RHS Silver–gilt medal for a collection of eight heritage vegetables, all proudly home grown from seed. Her theme was ‘Grow it, paint it, eat it!’
Currently, Suzanne, along with the Horsham School of Botanical Artists, is producing a collection of watercolour paintings for their latest venture – a Leonardslee Florilegium.
Deborah Ann Crago
Deborah has a passion for flowers and gardens which provide her with endless inspiration. Her floral illustrations are all created using pencil, either watercolour pencils or graphite. With a background in textiles, she enjoys working with fabric and uses the sewing machine as another means of drawing. Deborah is a founding member of Horsham School of Botanical Artists. To view more of Deborah’s work, please visit:
www.facebook.com/deborahanncrago
Instagram: @deborah_crago
Linda Lasham
Linda has always had a passion for watercolour painting and combined with her love of nature and plants, botanical art was the natural choice. Linda is drawn to detailed work and uses her garden and worldwide travel as inspiration. Linda is a member of the Horsham School of Botanical Artists. To view more of Linda’s work, please visit: www.artistsandillustrators/lindalasham
Eleanor Coate
Eleanor is a photographic botanical artist who, over many years of research and experimentation, has developed her own style, emulating an artistic genre of botanical art that she has always admired. After much research at RHS Lindley Library and experimenting with different techniques, Eleanor’s work continues to develop and recently she has been creating more complex compositions with wildflowers and grasses.
To view Eleanor’s work, please visit her website: www.eleanorcoate.com
Heather Glenny
Heather was originally taught by Pat Harby, a botanical artist for books and cards, and has also attended many short flower painting and botanical art classes to develop her skills. She is a member of several local art groups including the Association of Sussex Artists and has previously worked with the Horsham Museum and Art Gallery to complete a book of painted flowers from their Museum garden.
Hazel Barnard
Hazel‘s inspiration for flower painting comes from her time studying the watercolour illustrations from Edith Holden’s Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. She continues to develop her skills using subject matter from the surrounding countryside and her own garden. Hazel is a member of Horsham School of Botanical Art and continues to explore new techniques as well as broaden her knowledge of botanical illustration.
The exhibition runs from the 6th to 17th July and can be viewed during the Garden’s opening hours from 12pm- 5pm, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday of each week. To book tickets to visit in advance, please click here.
