Meet the artist
Since 1996, I have been painting and exhibiting as a botanical and natural history artist. I work from Pine Grove studios in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, and teach botanical art at various locations.
While I have completed a Bachelor of Education degree with a major in Fine Arts, my skills as a botanical artist were developed in classes with Jenny Phillips. I have spent months in Western Australia painting and drawing some of my favourite native plants and since moving to the Dandenong Ranges in 2009, I have also renewed my interest in exotic plants, including fungi.
My medium of choice is generally a mixture of watercolour and gouache but I also use pencils when working outdoors.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
EXHIBITION RECORD
2016
Awarded Best in Show at Australia Wild at Sherbrooke Gallery.
Awarded Celia Rosser Medal at Art of Botanical Illustration, Domain House.
Botanica Exhibition, Sydney.
Florilegium Exhibition, Sydney Museum.
Canberra Botanical, NIshi Gallery.
Karwarra Gallery, Kalorama.
2015
Reframing Nature, Domain House.
2014, 2015 and 2016
Open Studios Weekend in the Dandenong Ranges and exhibited in group exhibition at Burrinja Gallery, Upwey
Diversarty, Eltham Library Community Gallery
2013
Open Studios Weekend in the Dandenong Ranges and exhibited in group exhibition at Burrinja Gallery, Upwey
Submitted painting to The Florilegium Society for the Sydney Herbarium
Canberra Botanical, CSIRO Discovery Gallery
2012
Open Studios Weekend in the Dandenong Ranges and exhibited in group exhibition at Burrinja Gallery, Upwey
2011
Open Studios Weekend in the Dandenong Ranges and exhibited in group exhibition at Burrinja Gallery, Upwey
Eucalypts of the Royal Botanic Gardens and nature’s small wonders, Royal Botanic Gardens
Canberra Botanical, CSIRO Discovery Gallery. E. illyarrie used as signature painting for exhibition
2010
Art of Botanical Illustration features my painting of E. macrocarpa
Artist in Residence, Beverley WA
Solo exhibition at Kingfisher Gallery, Perth W.A
Earlier Exhibition Highlights
1996 – 2008
Exhibited regularly in the Friends of the Botanical Garden’s biennial exhibition, “The Art of Botanical Illustration”
2007, 2006, 2005
Exhibited as a finalist in the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize at the Museum of South Australia
PUBLICATIONS
The Florilegium, Sydney Botanic Gardens (2016)
Birds nest and feathers selected for a greetings card, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne (2014)
Birds nest painting selected for card,The Living and Learning Centre Nillumbik, Eltham (2013)
Eucalyptus erythrocorys selected for calendar for Friends of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne (2011)
Eucalyptus erythrocorys used as signature painting for “Canberra Botanical (2011)
Eucalyptus macrocarpa used to promote the Art of Botanical illustration Exhibition at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens
Eucalyptus macrocarpa used as the image for the “Friends of the Royal Botanical Gardens Christmas card (2010)
Image of Waratah used for Merry-go-round cards (2010)
Image used for the Botanical Illustration calendar produced by The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne (2007)
Painting of Corymbia ficifolia purchased for the State Botanical Collection (2006)
BASA produced a card from my painting of Eucalyptus ficifolia (2004)
The Christmas Greeting card used detail from one of my paintings Telopea speciosissima as its motif (2004)
Two images used in the 2001 National Trust Desk Diary (2001)
While I have completed a Bachelor of Education degree with a major in Fine Arts, my skills as a botanical artist were developed in classes with Jenny Phillips. I have spent months in Western Australia painting and drawing some of my favourite native plants and since moving to the Dandenong Ranges in 2009, I have also renewed my interest in exotic plants, including fungi.
My medium of choice is generally a mixture of watercolour and gouache but I also use pencils when working outdoors.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
- Secretary of the Australian Botanical Art Society
- Teacher of botanical art classes (see ‘classes’)
- Member of the Illustrators Committee, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
- Member of National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
- Artist in Residence, Beverley WA (September)
EXHIBITION RECORD
2016
Awarded Best in Show at Australia Wild at Sherbrooke Gallery.
Awarded Celia Rosser Medal at Art of Botanical Illustration, Domain House.
Botanica Exhibition, Sydney.
Florilegium Exhibition, Sydney Museum.
Canberra Botanical, NIshi Gallery.
Karwarra Gallery, Kalorama.
2015
Reframing Nature, Domain House.
2014, 2015 and 2016
Open Studios Weekend in the Dandenong Ranges and exhibited in group exhibition at Burrinja Gallery, Upwey
Diversarty, Eltham Library Community Gallery
2013
Open Studios Weekend in the Dandenong Ranges and exhibited in group exhibition at Burrinja Gallery, Upwey
Submitted painting to The Florilegium Society for the Sydney Herbarium
Canberra Botanical, CSIRO Discovery Gallery
2012
Open Studios Weekend in the Dandenong Ranges and exhibited in group exhibition at Burrinja Gallery, Upwey
2011
Open Studios Weekend in the Dandenong Ranges and exhibited in group exhibition at Burrinja Gallery, Upwey
Eucalypts of the Royal Botanic Gardens and nature’s small wonders, Royal Botanic Gardens
Canberra Botanical, CSIRO Discovery Gallery. E. illyarrie used as signature painting for exhibition
2010
Art of Botanical Illustration features my painting of E. macrocarpa
Artist in Residence, Beverley WA
Solo exhibition at Kingfisher Gallery, Perth W.A
Earlier Exhibition Highlights
1996 – 2008
Exhibited regularly in the Friends of the Botanical Garden’s biennial exhibition, “The Art of Botanical Illustration”
2007, 2006, 2005
Exhibited as a finalist in the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize at the Museum of South Australia
PUBLICATIONS
The Florilegium, Sydney Botanic Gardens (2016)
Birds nest and feathers selected for a greetings card, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne (2014)
Birds nest painting selected for card,The Living and Learning Centre Nillumbik, Eltham (2013)
Eucalyptus erythrocorys selected for calendar for Friends of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne (2011)
Eucalyptus erythrocorys used as signature painting for “Canberra Botanical (2011)
Eucalyptus macrocarpa used to promote the Art of Botanical illustration Exhibition at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens
Eucalyptus macrocarpa used as the image for the “Friends of the Royal Botanical Gardens Christmas card (2010)
Image of Waratah used for Merry-go-round cards (2010)
Image used for the Botanical Illustration calendar produced by The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne (2007)
Painting of Corymbia ficifolia purchased for the State Botanical Collection (2006)
BASA produced a card from my painting of Eucalyptus ficifolia (2004)
The Christmas Greeting card used detail from one of my paintings Telopea speciosissima as its motif (2004)
Two images used in the 2001 National Trust Desk Diary (2001)
