A varied collection of art and craft from members of the New Forest Marque Inspired. Each maker is inspired by the New Forest area in their own way, resulting in a variety of colourful and exciting responses to this unique landscape. From painting to ceramics and jewelry to printmaking, come and experience this special collection of local artisans work.
In this exhibition, Rachael revisits and reclaims the narratives of her life through the evocative use of painted and sewn surfaces. She reflects on a childhood shaped by both love and neglect, unraveling the intricate complexities of familial relationships.
Through these expressive works, Rachael intertwines the emotions of her past with her identity as an LGBTQ+ artist living with a disability. The result is a deeply personal and heartfelt exploration of resilience and connection.
Artist Meet and Greet (fee entry): Meet Rachel and learn about her work on Saturday 5 April 4.30pm at the Forest Arts Centre.
Rachael Lee is an accomplished artist and educator with a rich background in fine art. She has participated in artist residencies and exhibited her work both in the UK and internationally, gaining valuable experience and insights from diverse cultural contexts. Her creative journey has allowed her to collaborate with artists worldwide, shaping her unique style and artistic perspective.
Rachael deeply believes that sharing the process of making art and engaging in creativity is a wonderful way to connect with others. This philosophy is central to her work as both an artist and facilitator. Her dedication to the therapeutic potential of art is evident through her work with individuals from various backgrounds, including offenders, adults, and young people with additional educational needs. This experience has profoundly influenced her compassionate teaching approach, where fostering meaningful connections and prioritising the well-being of her students are always at the heart of her practice.
My interest in botanical painting started with a garden design course in 2003 run by Bournemouth Arts Institute and Kingston Maurward College. The syllabus covered plant history including the plant hunters and explorers of the 15th - 18th centuries. Artists would travel with the explorers and scientists to new lands where they collected and recorded evidence of plants and flowers.
Botanical illustration was then the only method available for recording these previously unknown plants. However, botanical illustration is still considered to be the best way to record plant detail as photography cannot bring unique details of a plant to life - the hidden features beyond what is in the photograph. Cameras do not record the detail that is required by a botanist thus botanical illustration is an essential means of plant identification and still is regarded as an important scientific tool.
As a result of this course I started some art lessons, beginning with pastels and then moving onto watercolours, quickly discovering the pleasure of botanical painting. From a complete beginner I eventually progressed to signing up for the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Learning Course, gaining my Diploma with Credit and becoming an Associate Member in 2014. I now work solely in watercolour on either watercolour paper or vellum. Botanical painting is my passion, be it a beautiful orchid in full bloom, dried seed heads or withered leaves.
I have previously exhibited some of my work with the Society of Botanical Artists in both London and Germany and also in Dublin at Bloom which is part of Ireland's largest garden festival. I was fortunate enough to have had a painting of a flowering rush, a rare plant on the nearby Stanpit Marsh, accepted by the Association of British Botanical Artists for their first exhibition. The association was specifically formed to stage the United Kingdom's representation for the unique World Wide Day of Botanical Art. A juried selection of 40 illustrations of native British species were exhibited in the Peter Scott Gallery at the University of Lancaster in May 2018. The exhibition was one of a total of 27 exhibitions held simultaneously round the world over a four day period. My work was assessed by the Royal Horticultural Society's Botanical Art Judging Panel and was granted approval to exhibit with them. I was in the process of putting together six botanical paintings of heritage grains when sadly family commitments and Covid brought this to a halt. A project yet to be finished!
Botanicals is an exhibition of some of my past and current work.
Gillian Geary, Dip SBA
