Winners Announced! Plant Life: Botanical Illustration

Congratulations to our 4 winners of Plant Life: Botanical Illustration! Thank you to everyone who participated in this month’s competition, whether that be submitting work or voting in our People’s Choice Award. Our shortlist was full of exceptional quality, contemporary botanical art from all over the globe, showcasing a vast amount of skill and understanding.

You can view all 25 works that made the shortlist here.

Overall winner, chosen by The President of the Society of Botanical Artists, Sandra Wall Armitage:

‘Fading Beauty’ by Vivienne Rew

Description: Number 5 in a series of 6 paintings titled ‘Metamorphosis – Life cycle of Papaver orientale’

Medium: Winsor & Newton Watercolours and Schmincke Watercolour on paper, 45x45cm

Vivienne will receive the following prize:

• Winsor & Newton Deluxe Wooden Chelsea Box Set £152.99 RRP

Sandra’s comment: 

“A well observed and vibrant piece with exquisite detail showing how a plant has a natural beauty to the end and possessing great wall appeal.”

Highly Commended by our Judge, Sandra Wall Armitage

‘Daucus Carota’ – Claudine Pasquin

Medium: Winsor & Newton Watercolour on Arches Paper, 26x36cm

Sandra’s Comment:

“A beautifully illustrated and showing all the components of the wild carrot with a good composition and gentle colouring that to me created a very serene and attractive illustration.”

Because Sandra commended this art work we decided to add an additional small prize and will be sending Claudine a £25 gift voucher for Jackson’s.

People’s Choice Award – 1st Place

‘Dark Bearded Iris’ – Jean Martin

Description: Watercolour botanical illustration of two dark bearded irises.

Medium: Saunders Waterford High White Hot Press watercolor paper, Paints: Winsor and Newton, Holbein, Brushes: Silver Black Velvet, Raphael 8408, WN Series 7, 12×16 inches

Jean will receive:

• Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour Lightweight Metal Sketcher Box Set £76.99 RRP

People’s Choice Award – 2nd Place and Highly Commended

‘Fícus cárica’ – Victoria Mezenova

Description: This is work for the 3rd Moscow exhibition of botanical illustration and painting (autumn exhibition).

Medium: Sennelier watercolour on Canson paper, 30x40cm

Victoria will receive:

• Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour Lightweight Metal Sketcher Box Set £76.99 RRP

Sandra’s Comments:

“This was another exquisite and accurate rendering showing strength and detail on both the fruit and foliage. Excellent use of highlight and good attention to the structure and character of the woody branch.”

For our next competition which launches 2nd November 2017 we are looking for Pastel Portraits! The prizes will feature £300 RRP of Faber Castell and Da Vinci prizes!