About Penny

”From a very early age I painted flowers, it was a subject that fascinated me. The perfect symmetry of plants, their organic changes, the way they develop, open up and even change colour – everything about them stayed with me.

Even when I was at art college, which I attended when I worked as a journalist and where we tried lots of different styles, I seemed to gravitate back to Botanical painting. But, despite loving the subject, it didn’t become my full-time job until a few years ago.

This coincided with moving from the hustle of south London, with my lovely husband and equally amazing son, to leafy Sussex. It was a juggling act at first – I was a freelance journalist travelling up to town had a toddler, and wasn’t as young as I’d liked, so finding the time and energy to paint was tricky. But, once I stopped commuting and finished my Diploma with the Society of Botanical Artists, I was able to start exhibiting and teaching, the success of which meant I could concentrate on the subject full time.

Fast forward a few years and I’m now a teacher of regular courses and workshops around the country. I feel so incredibly lucky to have reached this point where I can share my love of Botanical painting in all its amazing forms.

My aim is to encourage people to dust off their sketchbooks, or even pick up a paintbrush for the first time, and take a look at the natural environment around us. There’s so much to enjoy, with lots of surprises as well as new skills to learn. One of the most amazing things about this journey though, is the way the world can disappear while I’m painting, and I can lose myself in the moment.

To me, Botanical painting always felt a bit of an unsustainable pipe dream, and something I would do some day in the future, but as a lovely friend often says: ‘If not now, when?’ ”

 

Penny lives with her husband and son in Sussex where she paints landscapes, teaches Botanical painting, and draws inspiration from the South coast.

Biography

 

2023 Artists’ Open House, Brighton

2022 Art Wave, Lewes

2022 Artists’ Open House, Brighton

2020 Artists’ Open House, Brighton

2019 Artists’ Open House, Brighton

2018 Artists’ Open House, Brighton

2015-2018 Diploma (Credit) Society of Botanical Artists

2017 Artists’ Open Houses, Brighton

2016 Art Wave, Lewes

2012 Judith Blacklock Flower School, Mayfair (Group Exhibition)

2011 Chelsea Gardener, Kings Road, Chelsea (Solo Exhibition)

2010 Featured in 25 Beautiful Homes Magazine

2009 Featured in Country Homes & Interiors Magazine

2008 Webbs Gallery, Clapham (Solo Exhibition)

2006 Andrew Colvin Gallery, Notting Hill (Group Exhibition)

2002-2004 Fine Art Course at London’s City Lit 

 

"Penny was recommended to me and I loved the level of detail in her work, which I thought would suit a mural for my Orangery. From our first discussion, I was confident it was exactly what I was looking for. Penny was calm and confident and made sure I was happy with every phase. I love the mural and it's much admired by friends and family - I can’t recommend Penny highly enough, she is a talented and lovely artist, who enjoys producing beautiful work."

Donna Gunn