Botanical painting has a long tradition as far back as 2000 years ago, as a way of recording information to aid botanists in the identification of herbs for medicinal purposes. Later, artists such as Ehret, Bauer and Redouté began to paint rare and beautiful specimens of plants in collections belonging to wealthy patrons and collectors throughout Europe. These collections are known as Florilegia and the paintings were sometimes bound into books and reproduced to sell to other collectors and institutions.

The Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Society members meet one day per month at the palace to paint, research plant material and enjoy a variety of speakers. Occasional outside visits are also arranged. Members are encouraged to explore the gardens and glasshouses and they have the help and co-operation of the Head Gardener and his team in their research of the plants.

Full Members are asked to submit at least one painting per annum to be considered for inclusion in the Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Archive. The works are judged by a panel on their botanical accuracy and standard of painting, chosen works are donated by the individual Member to the Hampton Court Palace for the Archive. A Member who has had three paintings accepted becomes a Fellow of the Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Society.

Currently there are 60 artworks in the collection which are archived by the conservation department after being digitally recorded for use by Historic

...Introduction

Royal Palaces. These paintings are exhibited on a rota basis in a permanent position in the Garden Exhibition at the east front of the palace.

Members have botanical paintings in both private and public collections in the USA, Europe and the UK.

Click on the images for a larger view.

For more information or to contact artists please go to the Contact Page