New generation of botanical artists

Exhibition at The Shirley Sherwood Gallery in Kew Gardens, celebrating the talents of young botanical artists aged 16-25.

Winning entry of the Young Botanical Artist Competition, Kew Gardens.
credit: Marianna Zych

Showcasing 50 of the 1000 entries to the 2023 Young Botanical Artist competition, this exhibition celebrates the talents of the next generation of botanical artists. The exhibition opened last October and runs until the 7th of April 2024.

The Young Botanical Artist Competition was the result of that conversation, launched in 2022 in collaboration with Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Artists aged between 16 and 25 years were invited to submit artwork inspired by trees.

Over 1000 entries were received from 77 countries, making it clear that the appeal and practice of botanical art is alive and well within a new generation of artists. Competition entries were judges by some of the world’s most renowned botanical artists and curators, who selected works that represented their subject creatively with scientific accuracy.

Pictured is the work by the overall winner of the 16–18 age group award, Marianna Zych (17) from Poland. Her watercolour painting Prunus serrula was created as her first-ever botanical artwork following just one month of painting classes.

Entry to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery is included with Kew Gardens General Admission. Details of the exhibition can be found here.