Congratulations to six society members who had paintings accepted and exhibited at the 2017 Annual Exhibition of the Society of Botanical Artists at Westminster Gallery, Central Hall, Westminster. The members are Barbara Gemmell, Sandra George, Carol Hardie, Adrienne Roberts, Celia Scottow and Jane Wilkes.

Adrienne, Celia and Jane are now Associate Members of the SBA. Belated congratulations to Carol Hardie who was awarded a silver gilt medal by the Royal Horticultural Society for her watercolour paintings of Botanical Carnivores at the Malvern Spring Festival 2017.

There is a new exhibition at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Kew which is on until the 11th March 2018. The title of the exhibition is ‘Abundance : seeds, pods and autumn fruits’

Ann Swan made members work hard on the coloured pencil workshop on the 17th September. It dealt with tricky textures including how to depict hairs on leaves and stems.

The Society of Botanical Artists will hold its Annual Exhibition this year from 13th – 21st October at Central Hall Westminster, London. Some of our members have had exhibits accepted. This year there is ‘Audience with an Artist’ events with a different artist each day demonstrating their skills and discussing their art. Attendance at these events must be booked in advance – for further information visit www.soc-botanical-artists.org

• From 23rd September – 14th October there will be an exhibition of work by Rosie Sanders (Secret Letters) at the Jonathan Cooper Gallery, 20 Park Walk, Chelsea.
• Also on until the 30th September is Tradescant’s Orchard: A Celebration of Botanical Art at the Garden Museum, London with watercolor paintings by 50 artists.
• The Society of Botanical Artists Annual Exhibition – Changing Seasons is from 13th – 21st October.

The society welcomed Guy William Eves for a graphite workshop on Sunday 20th August.

Jeni Neale has organised two workshops.

A Different Viewpoint – the aim of this workshop is to depict a flower from an unusual and intriguing viewpoint. Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August 2017 from 10am – 4pm each day, at Eathorpe Village Hall, Warwickshire,

Seasonal Fruits and Flowers in Watercolour – Venue is Winterbourne House and Garden, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham. Saturday 23rd – Sunday 24th September 2017 from 11am – 5pm.

Places are limited so must be booked, for further details and to contact Jeni please send a message via the contact page on this website.

Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens – we continue to visit on the second wednesday of every month to draw in the garden. The Gardens are hosting a ‘Rare Plant Fair’ on Sunday 30th July from 11am – 4pm.

Exhibition – Northern Society of Botanical Art are holding an exhibition in the Chapter House, Southwell Minster near Nottingham from 17th June to 14th July 2017. The title is Foliage, Flowers and Fantasy.

Painting Holidays – we have received notification of the following:

National Trust Painting Days in West Cornwall on July 2nd and 9th. These are organised by the Newlyn Art School (info@newlynartschool.co.uk) If you register to be informed you will hear of other dates.

Botanical Painting Courses with Maggie Niagassus (RHS Silver medal holder). The next event is in Pelion, Greece from 22nd – 29th September 2017(http://www.lagouraxi.com/lgr2_wp/courses/)