Pomegranate Flowers
Margaret J. Fitzpatrick HSDipAD SBA
Margaret has been working as a professional artist for over 30 years. After graduating with Honours from Reigate School of Art and Design, she worked as a calligrapher and heraldic artist for ten years; her clients included the College of Arms in London, the Inns of Court and the London Livery Companies, plus many businesses and corporations as well as private individuals.
Her two loves, plants and gardening, drew her to botanical illustration although she still likes to paint other subjects including landscapes. Her heraldic and illumination work was primarily in gouache and oils on calfskin, canvas and silk, whilst her botanical work is primarily in watercolour. She is particularly interested in exploring different media and grounds for her work and has produced pictures using silverpoint on a bone ash prepared paper and using watercolour on vellum. She is inspired by the early illuminated manuscripts and by the Dutch 17th century still life painter.
Education:
Higher Surrey Diploma in Art and Design, Reigate School of Art, 1981
C&G Adult Learning Certificate, Oxford, 1999
Diploma in Botanical Illustration ( Distinction), Society of Botanical Artists, 2008
Career:
Freelance Calligrapher, Illustrator and Heraldic Artist, 1979 – 1991
Tutor, Calligraphy and Heraldry, Sussex, 1983
Tutor, Calligraphy and Heraldry, Oxfordshire, 1988 – 1999
Botanical Artist, 1993 –
Tutor, Painting, Drawing, Botanical Illustration, Oxfordshire, 1998 –
Tutor, Botanical Art, Distance Learning Diploma Course, Society of Botanical Artists, London, 2014 –
Membership:
Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers
Fellow of Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium
Member of Society of Botanical Artists
Media:
Watercolour, Gouache, Graphite, Silverpoint, Oil
One Person Exhibitions:
West Oxfordshire Arts Society, Bampton Gallery, England, 2012
Artist in Residence, Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Gloucester, England 2012 and 2013.
Group Exhibitions:
Royal College of Physicians, Paintings from the Illustrated College Herbal London 2018
In Ruskin’s Footsteps, Worldwide Exhibition of Botanical Art, Lancaster 2018
Tulipa Tulipae Exhibition Madrid Botanical Gardens 2018
Hunt Institute, 15th International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration, Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh 2016
Annual Open Exhibition of the Society of Botanical Artists, London, 2008-
Annual Exhibition of the Gloucestershire Society of Botanical Illustration, Gloucestershire, 2001-2014
Annual Exhibition of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers, London, 2013
Summer Exhibition of the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium, 2013 and 2015
Biennial Exhibition of Botanical Art at Palmengarten, Frankfurt, 2010 2014 2016 2018
Honour(s)/Award(s):
Great Art Award SBA 2019
Certificate of Botanical Merit SBA 2016
Award for Painting on Vellum SBA 2016
Special Award for Excellence, Society of Botanical Artists, 2007
Silver Medal, Royal Horticultural Society, 2003
Collections:
Hunt institute for Botanical Documentation
Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Archive
Oxford Botanic Garden Florilegium Archive
Royal College of Arms
Garter Banners St George’s Chapel, Windsor
Bath Banners Westminster Abbey
Inns of Court, London
Livery Companies London
Private Collections
Work Reproduced in:
Botanical Painting the Society of Botanical Artists 2018
Royal College of Physicians The Illustrated College Herbal 2018
Hunt Institute 15th International Catalogue 2016
Brown A, 2015, Botanical Illustration from Chelsea Physic Garden
Oxford plant Systematics, 2014,vol. 20, p.16
The Most Noble Order of The Garter 650 years P Begent & H Chesshyre