ArtPlantae Today

Over the centuries, the county of Dorset has motivated not only naturalists and scientists but provided the creative inspiration for artists, writers, and poets with its rich tapestry of colours, sounds and sights woven into an ancient landscape. Some artists have used inspiration from the array of wild flower meadows, ancient woodland and iconic views across west Dorset, while others such as Sarah Morrish (Assoc. SBA SFP) find her inspiration in nature’s details. 

Sarah has a background in conservation and education, yet spends most of her time now illustrating the natural world in watercolour and pencil. She has embarked on a special project in partnership with The Kingcombe Centre to produce a series of paintings illustrating the twigs and buds of Kingcombe’s iconic ancient hedgerow trees and shrubs. After a residential visit in winter/early spring, Sarah will produce eight paintings of eight species incorporating several twigs together with associated lichens, leaves and fruit, which she hopes will be exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society in 2016. 

Sarah said, “Since coming to Kingcombe from the late 1990’s, I have always been fascinated by the hedgerows there and have in the past included many elements of them in my artwork.” 

Sarah began her project in February 2015 and will return regularly to Kingcombe through late winter and spring to continue her work.

To receive updates about the project, follow Sarah’s blog, Art & the Hedgerow.

Sarah also teaches botanical illustration courses at the Kingcombe Centre in Dorset and has two planned for this year. Her class A Brush with Nature – Illustrating Spring Flowers will be held May 5-8 and A Brush with Nature – Illustrating the Natural World will occur August 5-7, 2015. Why not come along and gain experience and a valuable insight into the work of a Botanical & Natural History Artist? You will not be disappointed.

If detailed illustration is not for you, Sarah will also be leading lino-print workshops at the Centre throughout the year.

For information about art workshops at Kingcombe, see Arts/Creative Workshops.

Sarah will also teach courses in her home county of Hampshire. New for 2015 is the Nature’s Details Summer School. This takes place on a private country estate in the South Downs National Park and consists of three courses, Botanical Drawing & Painting, Illustrating Butterflies & Moths and Drawing & Painting Birds. Each course can be attended as a 1 or 2-day option and includes watercolour paper, subjects and a cream tea!

For more information, visit Nature’s Details Summer School.