Press Release

New exhibition combines passion for plants and painting

An new exhibition of botanical art, capturing the delicate beauty of flowers and fruits, has opened at Wakehurst Place, near Haywards Heath.

The exhibition features the work of the Botanical Art Society of Sussex whose members combine a passion for plants and painting.

The artists have taken their inspiration from Sussex gardens and Wakehurst – Kew's renowned country garden in the heart of Sussex – is the ideal backdrop for their work.

The Botanical Art Society of Sussex was set up three years ago to give local botanical artists a chance to share their interest in this classical form of painting, and now has 34 members. A number of the artists have completed courses in botanical art at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The watercolours on display in the Mansion Gallery at Wakehurst range from showy camellias to dainty bluebells, all painted with exquisite attention to detail. Even everyday vegetables like swede and broccoli get the artistic treatment, alongside illustrations of fruits and flowers.

The exhibition runs until November 12 and is free to garden visitors. For those inspired to get painting themselves Anna Johnson, the founder of the society, is holding a three day course in botanical art at Wakehurst Place from October 31 to November 2. For further details ring 01444 894310.

Andy Jackson, Head of Wakehurst Place, said: “ Wakehurst Place provides rich inspiration for artists and it is the perfect setting to show off the work of local botanical artists. We hope visitors will enjoy their work – and perhaps be inspired by the gardens and the paintings to pick up a pen or paintbrush too.”

The botanical art display is one of a series of exhibitions in the Mansion Gallery. The next exhibition, called ‘Imagine yesterday …today' featuring garden and landscape photography, will open on November 18 and run until March 2007.

Wakehurst Place at Ardingly, four miles north of Haywards Heath, West Sussex, is open daily from 10am. For further information telephone 01444 890466 or visit the website www.kew.org.

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Media enquiries: Andy Jackson 01444 894054 or 894067.

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