Iceni Botanical Artists, with their 30 members across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, was formed in 2010 and has held a major annual exhibition since then.
This year it is delighted to be holding A Celebration of Botanical Art in Norwich for the first time at the Anteros Arts Foundation.
The work is devoted to the plant world, both wild and hybrid cultivars, and the artists’ painting styles vary widely.
Some prefer botanical illustration and love the scientifically demanding precision and accuracy, as demonstrated by the classical 18th century illustrators, while others enjoy looser and freer representations. Watercolour, oil, acrylic, graphite and coloured pencil are all used.
Last year the group completed a three-year project based at the much-loved Fullers Mill Garden, near Bury St Edmunds. In 2022 an invitation came from the gardens to paint the plants that were the favourites of Bernard Tickner, the garden’s creator and designer.
This was perfectly timed to bring the IBA members together following the separation imposed by Covid ‒ to promote not only botanical art but also to feature the rare and special plants that grow there.
The original plant list numbered 72 to include trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, garden vistas, fauna and insects. The list soon expanded to 163, which demonstrated the belief, commitment and pleasure experienced by the contributing 25 artists.
The three stages of the project were skilfully managed by the chairman, the late Tina Bone. She also expertly designed, edited and published the final book, Fullers Mill Garden – A Jewel in the Forest, with text by Rod Lewis and published in 2025.
The first exhibition in the city will be on display in the Main Gallery at the Anteros Arts Foundation on Fye Bridge Street, Norwich, from May 19 to 31. The opening times are Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm.
Anteros is the perfect setting for exhibitions. Described as a charming rabbit warren of Grade II heritage-listed buildings it is a charity dedicated to the education and promotion of the arts across East Anglia.
And if you love visiting gardens then Fullers Mill, on the banks of the River Lark at West Stow, offers the perfect day out. It sits on a delightful seven-acre site of tranquil beauty.
It was created more than 50 years ago by the late Bernard Tickner MBE. He and his wife, Bess, donated it to The Fullers Mill Trust in 2004 and in 2013 the garden was gifted to Perennial, the UK’s only charity supporting all those working with horticulture, devoting their time to keeping Britain beautiful.
It is open from April to October on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays..
