The Kew Book of Botanical Illustration

An informative guide to painting and drawing plant life, from acclaimed artist in the field—“This is botanical illustration at the highest level” (The Artist).

Christabel King is one of the foremost botanical artists at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew is one of the world leaders in the study and conservation of plant species. Here King shares her passion for depicting plants, both in scientific illustrations and botanical art. This inspiring guide covers everything you need to know from collecting and preserving plant specimens, through magnification, drawing from life and painting leaves, flowers, cacti, and much more. A chapter on travel drawing gives a flavor of the author’s passion and worldwide experience, and there are many of her beautiful plates from the prestigious Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. There is a helpful section on suitable subjects for beginners and a glossary of terms to get you started in the beautiful art of botanical illustration.

“Christabel’s work is outstanding for its combination of beauty and scientific accuracy; her lovely paintings have been the mainstay of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine for many years, and she has taught a generation of young artists who have achieved the highest awards for their paintings.” —Martyn Rix, editor, Curtis’s Botanical Magazine