Sue Vize
Botanical Artist
The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation
My work is usually commission based but I do try to fit in my own artwork when time allows and exhibit each year with the Society of Botanical Artists in London. This is always an amazing exhibition showcasing many of the world's greatest living botanical illustrators. In 2010, following one such exhibition, I was thrilled to be invited to exhibit at the 13th International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pennsylvania, USA. The Hunt Institute is a research division of Carnegie Mellon University, specializing in the history of botany and all aspects of plant science. Subsequently, both pictures were purchased by the Hunt Institute to be included as part of their permanent collection. After the exhibition one of my pictures, 'Oriental Poppy' was included in a travelling exhibition which is a service provided by the Hunt Institute which gives museums, schools, botanic gardens, arboreta, garden clubs and other interested organizations the opportunity to view artwork that has previously been on display at their International Exhibitions.
Nottingham University
Nottingham University commissioned me to create two illustrations in coloured pencil for permanent exhibition in the main reception area of the Plant and Crop Sciences Division at the Sutton Bonington Campus, Nottingham. The two drawings were botanical studies of 'Tomato' and 'Arabadopsis', two of the main plants studied at the university. The Division contains the Nottingham Arabadopsis Stock Centre (NASC) and plays a major part in the Centre for Plant Integrative Biology.
RHS Lindley Library
I have a fascination for ferns and have completed many in graphite pencil. In 2012 I worked on a series of different ferns using a combination of both graphite and coloured pencil. I entered five into the annual SBA exhibition in 2012 and was delighted to win the Derwent Award for outstanding work in a pencil medium. The cherry on top of the cake was also finding out that the winning picture 'Polystitchum polyblepharum' was subsequently purchased by the RHS Lindley Library for their permanent collection.
'Tomato'
Copyright Nottingham University
Polystichum setiferum
Purchased by the Hunt Institute
Papaver orientale Oriental Poppy
Purchased by the Hunt Institute