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Margaret Brooker SBA
Biography
I have always enjoyed drawing plants and animals, and I have been drawing all my life.
I was encouraged at home: my mother had art training and my uncle was a professional illustrator whose work I always admired. Although I had planned on being an artist, circumstances pushed me into a science degree, but luckily my course involved a lot of drawing! Later I continued drawing and painting classes, mainly at the City Lit, and I went on short residential courses mainly at West Dean. Although I enjoyed doing an art A level and courses in calligraphy and wood engraving, I hadn’t quite found what I needed. Then, in 1994 I attended a short course in botanical illustration tutored by Anne-Marie Evans and felt I could use my early training in biological studies to advantage. I then attended a couple more short courses run by Anne-Marie and also by Margaret Duncan.
I belong to a small, informal group, led by Valerie Bolas, at Brogdale in North Kent where the National Fruit Collections are grown. Working there is a privilege and a great pleasure. Generally, I also enjoy landscape sketching, life-drawing and pen-and-ink. For me, botanical art continues a tradition that connects ancient with modern, East with West. We become part of a continuity of craftsmen and artists expressing a perception of Nature.
I owe a lot to the artists who have taught me: my mother, my uncle (by his work), James Heard, Margaret Duncan, Cherryl Fountain and Anne-Marie Evans. And to the scientists who have helped me: Alison Lean, Henry Tillotson and Marion Scott. Meeting other artists at the Shows is a great opportunity to discuss work, and to see other people’s work at exhibition is an experience I don’t think will ever be replaced by reproduced images.
Currently I am training to teach adults, and so my main challenge is the common one of finding time to paint!
BSc 1974 Zoology, with Botany as subsidiary, Bristol University
Jan 1997 RHS Bronze Grenfell medal
Jan 1999 RHS Silver-Gilt Grenfell medal
Jan 2003 RHS Silver-gilt Grenfell medal
May 2004 SBA membership