This year I'm happy to be exhibiting with potter Tam Frishberg who is well known for her elegant stoneware pieces. I will be showing framed original drawings of various botanical subjects, most of which were done over the past year. In normal years I would have also exhibited with the Society of Botanical Artists, of which I am a fellow. Thankfully I have managed a couple of virtual exhibitions, one with the SBA and another for Zuleika Gallery. All my work is done with coloured pencil on paper.
I began painting botanical subjects, using watercolour paint and gouache, nearly 20 years ago when I moved to Oxford from Vancouver. As I learned by trial and error, I was happy to be able to exhibit during Artweeks. This wonderful event kept me motivated to get better and I have taken part in it most years since. Then, sometime later, while exhibiting with the Society of Botanical Artists, I saw botanical work done with coloured and graphite pencil which so inspired me that I switched medium. In 2012 I became a full member (now, 'fellow') of the SBA whose annual exhibitions are truly inspirational. Although I use pencil, the result is quite like work done with watercolours. The method is different, but the result can be surprisingly similar. I look forward to sharing my work with visitors this year.