17 Dundass Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QG

17 Dundass Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QG

This event is for all members including the sitting committee, please feel free to join us,

ESBA 7th Annual Exhibition
Edinburgh Society of Botanical Artists

Saturday 24th to Thursday 29th November 2018
Open 10.am-6.pm, except 29th 10am -2.pm
at  6 Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Society of Botanical Artists (ESBA) will hold its 7th annual exhibition at  Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh from 24th- 29th November. The exhibition features work by twenty artists, all graduates of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Diploma course in Botanical Illustration.  Original paintings, giclee prints, cards and ESBA's unique annual calendar will be on sale.

For most of us, plants are something that decorate our garden or are glimpsed as a green blur as we speed past.  Images of flowers and leaves appear everywhere in our lives, on curtains, clothing, wallpaper, cards, wrapping paper and as national and political symbols.  These designs often reduce a flower to its most basic.  A daisy becomes a yellow blob surrounded by white loops, a poppy a scarlet splodge with a black centre.  Being constantly confronted by these simplistic representations, it is easy to forget how complex and beautiful a real plant is.

Plants, Passion, Paint promises you a visual treat.  Seen through the eyes of a botanical artist, plants are perceived in a fresh light.  The artist's precise observations of light, colour and intricate details reminds us that a common leaf is a complex, three dimensional structure, a work of art.  Whether it's a giant oak tree or a tiny seed seen through the microscope, botanical art helps us to see the familiar in new ways and discover details that we had no idea existed.   Botanical drawing requires not just looking, but seeing, the ability to focus and capture fine details that are often missed by a casual look.  When you leave the exhibition, you will see plants from a new perspective and find yourself turning over leaves to discover for yourself what's underneath!

ESBA artists are all graduates of the internationally respected Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Diploma course in Botanical Illustration.  Many of the artists have exhibited paintings nationally and internationally, won awards and had work selected for publication, such as the recent 'Scottish Plant Lore' by Greg Kenicer published by RBGE.  Not all graduates come from an arts background.  Many have had careers as teachers, architects, physiotherapists, social workers, botanists and film makers.  Their backgrounds are as diverse as the plants they paint, but they have one thing in common, a passion to paint and express the complex beauty of plants.   

Information about some of the artists' artwork that will be in the exhibition

*Copyright for each artwork remains with the individual artists who have kindly given permission for their work to be used to promote ESBA's exhibition 2018.

Pears  Pyrus communis watercolour by Nicola Macartney.

Nicola has always had a passion for drawing and painting and graduated with the RBGE Diploma in Botanical Illustration in 2012.  She has won numerous awards for her painting at national exhibitions such as RHS and BISCOT.  Nicola works mainly in watercolour, using layers of paint to build up colours and details. "I like to draw directly from plants, life size, celebrating the beauty of natural objects in everyday life".  www.nicolamacartney.com

Chinese magnolia  Magnolia x soulangeana  watercolour by William Phillips

William graduated from the RBGE Diploma course in 2015. He continues to develop a strong and individual watercolour style, focusing on botanical subjects, still life and landscape. Currently, he is leading workshops in botanical drawing at the Birnam Institute.  Exhibitions include the RBGE and BISCOT Botanical Images Scotia.  His painting Beech Hedge at Meikleour was accepted for the 7th Royal Scottish Watercolour Society Open Summer Exhibition 2018.

Snakeshead fritilleries  Fritillaria meleagris watercolour by Karyn Dalrymple

Karyn studied illustration and jewellery at Edinburgh College of Art. After teaching art combined with bringing up her family for more than thirty years, she did the Diploma course in Botanical Illustration at RBGE.  "My love of pattern and colour draws me to depicting particular plants, with autumn leaves and seed heads amongst my favourites.  I was awarded a Silver medal at BISCOT and a Silver Gilt medal at the Royal Horticultural Society exhibition".

Pine cone pen and ink by Jenny Haslimeier

Jenny is an award winning botanical artist based in Scotland and New Zealand.  Her early career was spent establishing herself as a graphic designer, later specialising in book design. In 2016 she completed the RBGE Diploma in Botanical Illustration and now exhibits regularly in the UK and internationally.  Jenny currently splits her time between Edinburgh and Auckland, painting, running botanical illustration workshops and designing and illustrating books. Recent awards include:

Silver-gilt award Native Tree Flowers of New Zealand RHS London 2018

Silver-gilt award Native Tree Flowers of New Zealand BISCOT 2017

www.jennyhaslimeier.com

Hawthorn berries and poppy seed heads watercolour by Marianne  Hazlewood

Marianne graduated with the RBGE Botanical Illustration Diploma in 2016. Her work is a meld of fascination that she feels for her plants, their structure and life cycle, combined with her approach to composition. She specialises in capturing detail and often grows the plants she paints.  "Time spent nurturing leads to a deep connection and insight into their growing cycle, bringing life and realism to my paintings and art work".  Marianne has contributed to numerous exhibitions at RBGE and had her first solo exhibition at Pittenweem Arts Festival August 2018.  www.mariannehazlewood.co.uk

Double samara, Sycamore  Acer pseudoplatanus  watercolour by Jessica Langford

Jessica's background is in animation films and graduated with the RBGE Diploma of Botanical Illustration in 2017. "Botanical illustration combines my passion for wild flowers and painting.  I especially like drawing using a microscope to reveal intricate structures and details not visible to the naked eye".  This summer she worked with Scottish Natural Heritage on 'Under the Microscope' a botanical art project with sixty secondary and primary school children illustrating bog plants, culminating with an outdoor exhibition on Flanders Moss, Stirlingshire.

Ingliston,
Newbridge
EH28 8NB

For more information on BISCOT: Click here

The 2019 BISCOT exhibition will provide the launch site for the new Florilegium at RBGE, recording the prestigious gardens living collection.

See more about the Florilegium: click here

PDF of the flyer available: here

20 Inverleith Row,
Edinburgh
EH3 5LR

For more information on BISCOT: Click here

The 2019 BISCOT exhibition will provide the launch site for the new Florilegium at RBGE, recording the prestigious gardens living collection.

See more about the Florilegium: click here

PDF of the flyer available: here

Admission Free

01738 631085 - info@framesgallery.co.uk

Frames Gallery operates the Own Art scheme allowing buyers to spread the cost of a purchase over 10 payments.

Find out more about the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists ​

The gallery is a large space and we will be limiting numbers if necessary to maintain social distancing guidelines.
Given the current situation we are not able to hold a private view as in the old days but some of the artists will be in the gallery from 11am on the 19th September.

To avoid any possible overcrowding you can book a slot from 11am onwards. Book via Eventbrite where you can select the slot which suits you best.

Alternatively you will be able to visit the exhibition online.

Due to the ongoing lockdown situation our exhibition has to move solely online this year, a break from the norm, but a welcome event nonetheless.

Our artists have put up an amazing display which we hope you will enjoy. Artwork is available to buy, so if you would like some contemporary botanical art to brighten your walls, or just fancy a browse, take a look at our exhibition.

ESBA artists are all graduates of the internationally recognized Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Diploma course in Botanical Illustration. Many of the artists have exhibited paintings nationally and internationally, won awards and had work selected for publication, and for inclusion in the RBGE Florilegium. The artists' backgrounds are as diverse as the plants they paint, but they have one thing in common, a passion to paint and express the complex beauty of plants.

Exhibition now closed

We are delighted to announce our 10th Annual Exhibition, this time our exhibition will be taking place both at the Dundas Street Gallery and online.

Exhibition Event: Saturday 2nd April, 2.00 – 4.30 pm. Please join us to look at the paintings and for a glass of fizz

Our artists have put up an amazing display which we hope you will enjoy. Artwork is available to buy, so if you would like some contemporary botanical art to brighten your walls, or just fancy a browse, take a look at our exhibition.

ESBA artists are all graduates of the internationally recognized Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Diploma course in Botanical Illustration. Many of the artists have exhibited paintings nationally and internationally, won awards and had work selected for publication, and for inclusion in the RBGE Florilegium. The artists' backgrounds are as diverse as the plants they paint, but they have one thing in common, a passion to paint and express the complex beauty of plants.

View the exhibition >>