Jeni Neale

Biography

Jeni Neale (Nee Barlow)

My first experience with watercolour was during my studies in textiles and knitwear design in Leicester. It was there that I developed my passion for botanical art through practise and determination.

I am inspired by the diversity of shape, colour and form of plants. Most of my paintings are done on a larger scale as I believe this aids me in capturing the intricate details of a plant’s anatomy. The translucent properties of watercolour allow me to make strong contrasts between light and dark, creating dramatic stills on the paper. In the future I would like to explore the portrayal of pattern and texture in plants as an abstract form of art.

I have had many private commissions and sales through exhibiting with the Birmingham Society of Botanical Artists, Birmingham Watercolour Society and Warwickshire Open Studios. I am a fellow member of the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society and have work in the collection of Shirley Sherwood and the Hunt Institute for Botanical documentation.

I tutor regular classes for adults on all aspects of botanical art in Warwickshire including Compton Verney and Winterbourne Botanic Garden and co-ordinate and teach the ‘Steps through Botanical Art’ course for the Birmingham Society of Botanical Artists.

Awards

• Certificate of botanical merit award for ‘Silvanberries’ 1993 – Society of Botanical Artists annual exhibition, London. Jeni Barlow) Gifted to the Hunt Institute for Botanical documentation, Pittsburgh, USA. Exhibited in the 8^th International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration, 1995 and in ‘Dangerous Beauty’ 2014.

Contact

For further information about commissions, workshops and courses, please contact the  www.birmingham-botanical-artists.org.uk where your message will be forwarded to Jeni