We were delighted to be First Time Exhibitors at RHS Chelsea in the Grand Pavilion, 18th-23rd May 2026. We showcased 15 of our Artists in a stand with an apothecary vibe. There were also live artist demonstrations throughout the week and we were featured on the BBC Show coverage. We were also awarded an RHS Silver-Gilt Medal! Artists featured: Gillian Barlow, Andrew Brown, Joanna Craig-McFeely, Guy William Eves, Maggie Fitzpatrick, Yvonne Hammond, Mayumi Hashi, Rui Jiang, Margaret King, Deborah Lambkin, Alister Mathews, Jill Mayhew, Penny Stenning, Judi Stone, Mary Ellen Taylor, Emma van Klaveren

"Botanica in Bloom". A retrospective at The Saatchi Gallery celebrating 30 years of the Florilegium Society at Chelsea Physic Garden.

With thanks to the James & Shirley Sherwood Foundation. Artists: Mariella Baldwin, Andrew Brown, Chrissie Lightfoot, Joan Lundie, Valerie Bradbury, Jo Lindl Edwards, Penny Stenning, Margaret King, Ainslie Ensom, Janet Callender, Guy Eves, Joanna Craig-McFeely, Sally Crosthwaite, Christine Battle, Judi Stone, Caroline Hervey-Bathhurst, Charmian White, Alistair Matthews, Pauline Dean, Nicki Tullett, Barbara McLean, Yvonne Glenister-Hammond, Julia Trickey, Fujiko Muroaka, Liz Sherraz-Clarke, Valerie Bolas, Peggy Dawe, Vivienne Taylor

The Society’s 30th Anniversary was celebrated with a teaparty and Dr.Shirley Sherwood was the guest of honour.

2025-The Florilegium affiliated with The Society of Botanical Artists in a big anniversary year for both groups. The SBA generously gave us the opportunity to showcase nine of our artworks at the ‘Plantae 2025 ‘ to their audience at The Mall Galleries. Artists were: Mariella Baldwin, Jo Edwards, Mayumi Hashi, Deborah Lambkin, Nigel Pickering, Rui Jiang, Julia Trickey, Sue J. Williams & Emma van Klaveren

In Bud & Bloom, Few spaces have ignited the artistic imagination quite like gardens and in Cumbria, they have a national reputation for their Gardens, from the grand and historic to the intimate and natural. In their Summer Exhibition, they looked at flowers as an inspirational and thought provoking artform, through the contemporary artwork of 43 invited UK artists, 13 of whom are living and working in Cumbria. Through stunning photography, film, and artwork both historic and contemporary, the ‘In Bud & Bloom’ exhibition opened with a look at the vibrant world of Cumbrian gardens, many with national collections of Flowers. Artists participating were Barbara Clemence, Joanna Craig-McFeely, Jayne Leycester-Paige and Sue Williams,

To celebrate 20 years of CPGFS, an exhibition entitled ‘London’s Secret Garden’, was mounted in the Gallery during August. Andrew Brown prepared a second volume of members’ paintings together with a text which focused on the medicinal, culinary and other practical uses of the plants shown. This approach was to tie in with the increased emphasis on education being pursued by the Garden. The book’s title was ‘Botanical Illustration from Chelsea Physic Garden.’

The Society celebrated its twentieth year by holding an excellent luncheon at the Royal College of Physicians. Some 70 guests enjoyed good food and wine and we were joined by Dr Shirley Sherwood and Anne Marie Evans. Afterwards we had the opportunity to join a tour, led by Dr Henry Oakeley, of the RCP’s small but densely planted garden of medicinal plants.

"The Art & Healing Power of Plants". The Chelsea Physic Garden and The Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust presented an exhibition that intertwined botanical art, medicine and plants.

Margaret King and Chair Mary Ellen Taylor hosted 24 Florilegium (wellbeing related) pieces selected by Hambro & Partners to feature as their summer party theme at CPG. The exhibition was in a marquee on the lower lawn and appreciation from the 450 clients was heartening!

Also in this period, The British Museum photographed The Non-Living Collection generously sponsored by The James & Shirley Sherwood Foundation.

The first Florilegium website was created by Emma van Klaveren.

An exhibition of our work “Inner Beauty?” was held in the new Shirley Sherwood gallery at Kew Gardens.

The same exhibition “Inner Beauty?” was then exhibited at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York from September to November 2009 and the Preview was attended by 19 of our members, many accompanied by family.

At this year’s AGM, our members enjoyed cake to celebrate our fifteeth anniversary.

CPGFS mounted an exhibition ‘Treasures from a Hidden Garden’ in the Gallery. 82 images by 68 artists were shown, some of which featured plants which produce ‘superfoods’ which was the Physic Garden’s theme for that summer. In October 47 images by 47 artists from this exhibition were shown at the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Shades of Autumn’ show.

All of our work was photographed as 35mm tiles which were then digitised as a permanent record. All pen & inks were scanned.

Anniversary Luncheon at The Apothecaries’ Hall organised by Chair Dr.Andrew Brown. This coincided with the publication by The Antique Collectors’ Club of ‘Flower Paintings from the Apothecaries’ Garden’ with members’ images chosen and text written by Andrew. During this summer the Phsyci Garden staged an exhibition of our works from the book.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales held an exhibition of ‘Paintings from the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society and that Autumn we donated a Wollemi Pine to the Garden. The tree had been newly discovered in SE Australia and used to be dinosaur fodder millions of years ago.

The Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Society became affiliated with us this Spring.

Helping satellite florilegia societies set up, Sheffield, Rio etc.

Our Honorary Patron Professor Stearn died. Dr.Phillip Cribb of Kew (Deputy Keeper of the Herbarium.) accepted the invitation to be our Hon.Patron.

Sue Minter left the Garden to go to The Eden Project and she was suceeded by Rosie Atkins.

A selling exhibition of our work by held at The European Patent Office in Munich which was kindly organised by our scientific adviser. Dr.Barbara McLean and her husband Greg.

There was a selling exhibition of 28 members’ work at St.John’s, Smith Square, SW1 in the Footstool restaurant organised by Wendy Page. During the summer of this year a charter of affiliation was signed with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium Society in New York.

At the fifth AGM, Ainslie Ensom took over from WAP, the Founder Hon. Secretary and Elizabeth Rice took over from Minutes Secretary Liz Pickup to become the newly designated Deputy Hon. Sec to lighten the load for new Hon. Sec. Penny Syenning took over from Jane Bruce as the Programme Secretary.

Visit to the Savill Gardens, Windsor Great Park

Visit of Japanese party to the Physic Garden to coincide with the donation of 500 mushroom paintings by Michiko Kobayashi to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. The donating of this gift was completely organized by MK who also attended the handing over at Kew the next day. MK invited Mr Kazunori Kurakowa to be an Honorary Member of the Society.

At the fifth intake, 22 watercolours and 8 Pen & Ink artworks were donated to the Archives. Alison Brown was appointed as our Representative on the Highgrove Committee.

By the fourth AGM the Society had reached 60 Painting Members and 29 Associate Members. Jane Bruce took over from Alison Brown as Programme Secretary.

The Society donated 30 watercolours and 14 Pen & Ink artworks to the Garden Archives at its fourth intake.

MK told by AME that she was starting a Florilegium group at Highgrove House and informed MK that no CPGFS Society Members would be allowed to join the project. MK would not accept this. MK and WAP were approached by The Mail on Sunday and The Daily Telegraph regarding the press leak over The Highgrove Florilegium which was nothing to do with the Society.

Preview evening at The Hunt Institute, Pittsburgh of their exhibition of Watercolours from The Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society attended by 11 members of the group accompanied by family. The exhibition ran from 24th April to 28th July, with 46 paintings by 31 members.

At the third intake, 37 watercolors and 12 Pen & Ink were accepted by the Garden Archives.

The Society visited The Natural History Museum for a private View of botanical artwork.

Work selected for the Show and mounted at Royal Academy Framing.

The Florilegium Society group exhibit of watercolour paintings of "Plants associated with Philip Miller and growing in the Physic Garden" was awarded a gold medal at The RHS Westminster Show. There 32 paintings by 26 artists.

Visit to The National Museums and Galleries of Wales in Cardiff to see the Exhibition "The Paradise Garden".

At the third AGM, there were 47 Painting Members, 18 Associate Members. Gillian Barlow succeeded Rosemary Barlow as Honorary Vice-Chair.

The Society visited the famous paint factory Winsor & Newton in Harrow, Middlesex, in the South of the UK.

Nine members visited Pittsburgh for the Preview of the 9th International Exhibition at The Hunt Institute. Chair MK and Hon.Sec WAP attended as Ambassadors to promote the Florilegium Society and create good will. They also attended the Annual ASBA Conference for the same purposes.

The Society visited The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge for a private view of botanical work.

A Charter of Affiliation was signed between CPGFS and ASBA.

The Physic Garden received 12 watercolors and 27 Pen & Ink artworks from the Painting Members.

The Society visited The Linnean Society to see some of their books, paintings, drawings and etchings held in their collection.

First intake for the Physic Garden Archives of 12 watercolors and 2 Pen & Ink artworks.

Visit to The Natural History Museum for a private view of botanical artwork.

The numbers had grown to 40 Painting Members, 9 Associate Members.

Dr.Shirley Sherwood gave a lecture on her collection and collecting. She also cut the second aniversary cake.

Through correspondence and phone calls, the Hon. Secretary forged links with The Leicestershire Society of Botanical Illustrators, The American Society of Botanical Artists and The Society of Floral Painters, as can be seen from articles in the newsletters. MK and WAP met Dr. Shirley Sherwood at The Chelsea Flower Show, London and invited her to come and speak to the Society and she was invited to become an Honorary Member of the Society. James J White, Curator Fine Art at The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at The Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh accepted an invitation to be the Society Honorary Patron for the US.

At the Society's first AGM, the group had 42 Painting Members with £496.39 in the bank! WAP was Hon. Treasurer and Alison Brown took over from WAP as Programme Secretary.

Dr.Diane Bouchier, the founder President of ASBA came to the July meeting and cut the first anniversary cake.

A second Society outing, this time to the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London to see Dutch Flower Painting Exhibition.

Inaugural meeting at the Chelsea Physic Garden when 18 botanical artists enrolled as members. During the first year another 30 artists enrolled as either painting or associate members.

Professor William Stearn accepted the invitation to be Honorary Patron when in conversation with MK, AME & WAP after his lecture at the Physic Garden.

Michael Hickey accepted the invitation to be the first Honorary Member in recognition for all his help and kindness.

The first Society Outing to The Print Room at The Victoria & Albert Room.

Margaret King put her idea to the Curator for the formation of a Society of botanical artists working to record the plants growing in the Physic Garden. The Curator and Trustees gave permission for this to go ahead.

Two informal minuted meetings were held at the Garden with Margaret King, Wendy Page, Rosemary Alexander and Anne Marie Evans during which discussions took place on the 'aims' of the new Society and its setting up. MK and WAP formulated a new Set of Rules by which the Society should be run. AME suggested the name 'Florilegium Society' and this was approved. It was suggested by MK that HRH The then Prince of Wales be asked to be Royal Patron and WAP suggested that the artists could offer to also paint a Florilegium of the Highgrove Garden, this idea was put on hold by the Curator for the time being.

WAP sent out a letter to all past members of The English School of Gardening School's first one year course in botanical illustration announcing the formation of the new Society and date for the inaugural meeting.

MK attended a seminar on Botanical Art at The Victoria & Albert Museum where she grabbed the microphone and told artists there about the new society and the date for the inaugural meeting.