2014 - 2017
The Nepal Project is a programme of botanical illustration workshops and plant research in the field in Nepal, from which to create contemporary botanical artworks. It forms part of a series of celebratory events marking the bicentenary of diplomatic relations between Britain and Nepal, following the signing of the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816. It also highlights the unique, and even longer-established, connection between the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Nepalese botany.
This connection began at the very start of the nineteenth century with Dr Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, who trained in botany at RBGE, and continues to the present day with the publication of the Flora of Nepal (www.floraofnepal.org).
Past and Present Connections
From 1801 to 1802, Dr Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, known as 'The Father of Nepalese Botany', conducted the first ever survey of plants in the Kathmandu Valley. This historical record remains highly relevant today, informing the current scientific collaboration between the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology in Kathmandu, the Society of Himalayan Botany at the University of Tokyo, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, all of whom are working collectively towards publishing the complete Flora of Nepal.
Nepalese Plants in Art
When Dr Buchanan-Hamilton carried out his first plant survey, he commissioned a series of botanical paintings by an Indian artist — now sadly unknown — and over one hundred of these beautiful works now form the Buchanan-Hamilton Collection, part of the science collections held at the Linnean Society, London.
Drawing on these historical paintings for inspiration, RBGE botanical artists will create new artworks depicting some of the same plant subjects, as well as others of ethnobotanical importance or conservation concern. The 2016 exhibition will bring together both the historical and the contemporary botanical artworks.
RBGE Botanical Artists
We are six botanical artists associated with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Led by Jacqui Pestell, Course Director in Botanical Illustration at RBGE, the artists involved are Sharon Tingey, Işık Güner, Claire Banks, Lyn Campbell and Sarah Roberts — all of whom teach botanical illustration at RBGE, across courses ranging from the Botanical Illustration Diploma and Certificate to beginner and masterclass levels.
What Do We Do?
Share
We share our knowledge of botanical illustration through a series of workshops. There will be classes suitable for beginners through to more experienced artists, and for all ages — from schoolchildren to university students to adults.
Learn
We will study Nepalese plants in their natural habitats, which will help us understand them more deeply — learning their stories, including how they are used and whether any are becoming rare.
Celebrate
From the visual information we gather about Nepalese plants, we will create new botanical artworks to be exhibited in 2016 as part of the celebrations marking the Bicentenary of British-Nepalese Diplomatic Relations.
Nepal Fundraising
December 2014
To carry out the research in Nepal and create a contemporary collection of botanical artworks, although we had received some funding from Eve Bennett-Truss, we still needed to raise further funds to support the project. To this end, we produced a collection of original small artworks — available to purchase just in time for Christmas!
The event was a great success! Within two hours we had sold all the works, and we now have a budget of approximately £3,000. Is that not wonderful?!
Etkinlik büyük bir başarıyla sonuçlandı. İki saat içinde tüm eserleri sattık ve bütçemiz yaklaşık 3.000 sterline ulaştı.
