NEW WORK: KEW Answers book illustrations

KEW Answers for Everyday Gardeners by Polly Stevens

Book cover art illustration of an abstract plant

Kew Answers for Everyday Gardeners solves all your gardening conundrums, from pest control to pruning, and wildlife to weather management, with a series of 100 questions.

Client: Quarto Publishing

I was tasked to create ink illustrations in a minimalistic, contemporary botanical ink and brush style to be featured on the cover and chapter openers. Every illustration was hand-painted on paper and delivered as digital print-ready files.

Book cover art illustration of an abstract plant

Chapter opener illustration of garden objects

Gardening is one of my favorite themes to illustrate! If you are interested in hand-painted ink illustrations for a publishing project, get in touch.

Reviews from my Print shop: Botanical wall art. Shop small in 2024!

Welcome to my Print Shop review roundup! In this post, I’m excited to share feedback from wonderful customers who have chosen my botanical wall art to bring nature-inspired beauty into their homes.

As a small business owner in 2024, I’m so grateful for the support of those who choose to shop small. If you’re looking to add a touch of nature to your walls, or find the perfect gift, I hope these reviews inspire you to explore the unique offerings in my collection.

Lily of the valley botanical art print

from $32.00

Lily of the Valley art print: “A very high quality print. Thank you!”

Huckleberry art print: “Shipping was fast, and the painting is just beautiful!”

Red clover botanical art print

from $32.00

Red clover botanical art print: “This beautifully detailed artwork is a highlight of the room!”

Poison garden botanical art print

from $30.00

Poison garden art print: “The print is absolutely beautiful and goes perfect in my moody half bath”

Belladonna art print: “Print shipped quickly and arrived adequately protected. The print itself is gorgeous and excellent quality. I can't get over how velvety the texture is 🥵 Thank you so much!”

Thank you for exploring these wonderful reviews! If you're looking to bring a touch of nature to your walls or find a thoughtful gift, I hope this inspires you to discover the unique pieces in my Shop. Here’s to finding something special to make your space bloom!

Birth Flowers and their meaning. ✨NEW✨ 2025 Floral Calendar

Step into a world of nature’s beauty with our Birth Flower Calendar – a heartfelt way to celebrate life’s precious moments! Each month unfolds with a vibrant watercolor flower painting, each bloom full of meaning and charm.

January: Snowdrop

Start the year with the resilient snowdrop, a symbol of pure joy and fresh beginnings. Try finding this little bloom peaking through the snow to welcome the new year with a smile.

February: Violet

Sweet violets bloom in February, representing loyalty, faithfulness, and a love that endures. Violets are also associated with purity and innocence due to their delicate petals and sweet fragrance. They symbolize a pure, untainted love or affection, as well as the innocence of youth.

March: Daffodil

The cheerful daffodil arrives with March, a symbol of rebirth and new joy. Let this sunny flower lift your spirits as you step into spring.

April: Daisy

The daisy is often associated with innocence and purity, partly due to its simple, unpretentious look. In the Victorian language of flowers, daisies were given to signify these qualities and new beginnings.

May: Lily of the Valley

Known for its small, bell-shaped white flowers, the lily of the valley represents humility, purity, and modesty. The flower’s unassuming beauty is a reminder of the elegance found in simplicity and the quiet strength of humble qualities.

June: Wild Rose

Wild roses are powerful symbols of love, passion, and beauty. For those born in June, the wild rose represents a deep, untamed love and an appreciation for natural beauty, symbolizing relationships that are heartfelt and enduring.

July: Larkspur

The larkspur, July’s birth flower, symbolizes positivity and dedication. Its vibrant blooms represent joy, commitment, and loyalty, embodying a lighthearted yet graceful spirit.

August: Poppy

Bold and vibrant, the poppy blooms in August, symbolizing strength and beauty. Despite its delicate appearance, the poppy can grow in harsh conditions, symbolizing resilience, strength, and the ability to thrive amid adversity.

September: Aster

In August, the aster shines as a star of late summer, symbolizing love, wisdom, and a hint of magic. The aster has long been linked to wisdom and intelligence. In Greek mythology, asters were sacred to the Greek gods and goddesses, symbolizing divine wisdom and understanding.

October: Marigold

October bursts into color with the marigold, a symbol of passion and creativity. With its bright, fiery colors, the marigold is often associated with passion, creativity, and warmth. It represents the spark of inspiration and is thought to encourage bold expression and imaginative thinking.

November: Chrysanthemum

As the year quiets down, November’s chrysanthemum brings calm and optimism. Chrysanthemums are often linked to loyalty, honesty, and sincerity, reflecting qualities valued in friendships and relationships.

December: Narcissus

End the year with the joyful narcissus, a flower of celebration and renewal. Narcissus flowers bloom in winter, bringing brightness and new life to the colder months. As a December birth flower, the narcissus symbolizes hope, optimism and good fortune, reminding us that beauty and new beginnings are always possible, even in the most challenging times.

Our Birth Flower Calendar is more than just a visual delight – it’s a year-long journey with nature’s loveliest blooms! Whether it’s a thoughtful gift or a special treat for yourself, this calendar brings a bit of floral magic to each month. Grab yours today and let the joy of birth flowers warm your heart all year round!

In Store:

2025 Illustrated Wall Calendar - Birth Flowers

from $35.00

Label illustrations for Procter&Gamble Ivory Body Wash

Procter & Gamble reached out to me to create label illustrations for a range of their Ivory brand Body Wash. The brief included illustrations across several labels, each featuring an original scent.

Ivory has a unique heritage, being the oldest brand created by the P&G, founded in 1879. The brief called for images that were artistically hand-painted in traditional media.

This presented an opportunity to focus on crafting the hand-painted look of watercolor painting with visible brush strokes while maintaining realistic detail. My efforts were spent creating the unique painted quality that makes watercolor illustrations so appealing.

I was commissioned to create artwork for the illustrated labels including Water Lily, Coconut, Aloe, Lavender, Jojoba, Honey, Original and Fragrance-free.

Art licensing - Wall art for Anthropologie

This year I am thrilled to have 3 fine art prints of my original watercolor illustrations available at Anthropologie, as a part of their 2024 Summer Wall Art Collection.

White Magnolia, Herbalist, and Watercolor Fig exclusively at anthropologie.com

Illustration Spotlight: Watercolor flowers and vegetables for seed packets

I was commissioned to create hand-painted botanical illustrations of garden flowers and vegetables by Florea - a modern garden brand from Sweden. Illustrations were created to use on seed packets, gift packaging and for marketing.

Styled photos are from Florea www.flo-rea.com

Anna Farba at Ellas Ilustran Botánica

I’m honored to have my 3 watercolor botanical artworks included in the Ellas Ilustran Botánica, Botanical Female Illustrators exhibition at Madrid Botanical Garden - Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid, Spain.

VISIT IN PERSON:

Villanueva Pavilion. Royal Botanical Garden Madrid, Spain
February 22 - May 18 during the Garden visit hours

Follow the exhibition news on Instagram- www.instagram.com/ellas_ilustran_botanica

My work is included in the Green Open Gallery among more than 160 contemporary botanical illustrators.

Photos were kindly provided by https://www.instagram.com/anajrevuelta

Purchase art prints of the works selected for this exhibit:

Dandelion botanical art print

from $32.00

Fireweed botanical art print

from $32.00

Thistle botanical art print

from $32.00

Bluebonnet (Lupine) botanical art print

from $32.00

Art Supplies shopping in Canada Guide: Toronto

Welcome friends! In this Guide, we’ll explore Canada's best places to shop for art supplies.

Covering stores from both coasts, these stores are also online and offer shipping nationwide, so don’t be disappointed if you can’t visit in person.

This is a Part 2 Post about Toronto. Check out Part 1 about Vancouver.

Let me walk you through.

Above Ground Art Supplies in Toronto

My favorite location is next to OCAD University on 74 McCaul St. Step into Above Ground Art Supplies, and you'll immediately feel like you've entered an art lover's paradise, inside a 3-storey heritage building.

The store layout is like a treasure map, guiding you through a sea of colors, textures, and possibilities. It's a 3 storey adventure, and you're the fearless explorer.

Curated Selection:

Imagine walking into a store where every art supply feels like it's been handpicked just for you. That's the magic of Above Ground. From premium paints to the fanciest brushes, they've got a curated selection that will make your artistic heart skip a beat.

Quality Matters:

Above Ground takes pride in offering top-notch materials that will make your artwork sing. Whether you're into painting, drawing, or some funky mixed media, rest assured you're getting the good stuff.

For Every Artist:

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your artistic journey, Above Ground has something for everyone. It doesn't matter if you're a watercolor wizard, a charcoal champion, or a digital art diva – they've got the supplies to match your creative flair.

Watercolors Selection:

I always make my way to the watercolors section as I’m always curious to see the selection of professional quality watercolors. Here’s the selection you’ll find at Above Ground: Da Vinci, Daniel Smith, M Graham, QoR, Schmincke, Sennelier, Turner, Van Gogh, Windsor & Newton.

Above Ground Art Supplies stands out for the largest selection of everything you can think of when it comes to art supplies. I also spotted lots of cool accessories like pencil cases and planners/journals. They do offer discounts to local students and professionals who are a member of Canadian artist associations in-store.

Happy shopping!

Art Supplies Shopping in Canada Guide: Vancouver

Welcome friends! In this Guide, we’ll explore Canada's best places to shop for art supplies.

Covering stores from both coasts, these stores are also online and offer shipping nationwide, so don’t be disappointed if you can’t visit in person.

This is a Part 1 Post about Vancouver. Check out Part 2 about Toronto.

Let me walk you through.

Opus Art Supplies in Vancouver

Opus Art Supplies is an independently owned art supply store established in 1974.

I love visiting their flagship store in Downtown Vancouver, 555 W Hastings St U1, which you can enter by crossing the street from the Waterfront Station.

Brushes and Tools:

Opus has everything from tiny detail brushes to big, bold bristle brushes. If you’re in need of a palette knife, sponges, or porcelain palettes, they've got those too.

Drawing and Illustration Supplies:

If drawing is more your jam, Opus has your back with pencils, pens, markers, and sketchbooks galore. Whether you're into graphite, charcoal, ink, or colored pencils, they've got the goods.

Canvas and Paper:

Canvas, panels, specialty papers – classic canvases, mixed media, or printmaking, they got them, and their watercolor paper selection is exquisite. I sometimes get that one very expensive that’s the best quality hot press paper by the sheet.

Watercolors Selection:

I always make my way to the watercolors section as I’m always curious to see the selection of professional quality watercolors. Here’s the selection you’ll find at Opus: Daniel Smith, Schmincke, QoR Watercolors, Van Gogh, Winsor & Newton.

Opus Art Supplies stands out for its wide selection of art supply brands and dedication to fostering a thriving artistic community. The staff are artists too, and they love sharing their wisdom. Keep an eye out for workshops, demos, and events that you can register for free on the Opus website.

Happy shopping!