Julia Groves

I am currently based in Suffolk in the UK, my work is inspired by the historical and contemporary traditions of Botanical Art and Contemporary Drawing practice.

I make works on paper including watercolours, drawings and photography, often making my own inks and mineral paints.

My practice is informed by over 20 years experience as a horticulturalist in a variety of community projects.

 An ‘ethno botanical artist’ I use plants to investigate stories about our relationships with ourselves and the natural world.  I make work with many layered considerations and narratives including environmental, spiritual,symbolic and cultural. Recurring themes for me are using poppies and roses, with their fragile ephemeral beauty, medicinal qualities and their personal and historical symbolic potency.

I have been part of various contemporary botanical art projects using plants accessed from National Plant Collections, Physic and other prestigious Gardens, including the Sir Cedric Morris Iris Florilegium, the Bedgebury Pinetum Florilegium and the Iceni Botanical artists.

I was awarded a Silver Gilt medal in 2022 for my 'Seeds of Hope' paintings at the Royal Horticultural Societies Botanical Art Show at the Saatchi Gallery in London.