Botanical illustration

Botanical illustrations have enhanced scientific research for thousands of years. The illustrators at the Australian Institute of Botanical Science embrace a contemporary vision of this traditional artform. 

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The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney boasts not one but two scientific illustrators, maintaining the legacy of Margaret Flockton, which began at the National Herbarium of NSW in 1901.

Living, pressed, dried or floating in alcohol, plants are interpreted, reimagined and perfected in illustration – no matter how humble the species, how aged or decrepit the specimens may be.

The role of our scientific illustrators is to highlight botanical research, to clarify our understanding, but along the way they also happen to make science beautiful.

Scientific Illustration Flickr Galleries

A botanical drawing of an Isopogon from the Florilegium
Contemporary botanical paintings of plants in the living collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust.
An illustration in pencil and watercolour
Discover Australian botanical illustrator Margaret Flockton’s legacy which prompted an international titular award.
A botanical illustration of a Hippeastrum plant
Find out how to enter for 2024 and view past winners.