BIO: Painter of plants, illustrator and arts tutor
Dianne first learned to paint intricate floral patterns on to china in the1980's when she trained as a design technician with Royal Doulton, Staffordshire.
In the late 1980s a move to Scotland allowed her to establish herself as an artist and illustrator, by the 1990's she was specializing in botanical subjects but took time out to study for a BSc Hons in Biology at the University of Aberdeen in 2003. She studied floral morphology in relation to reproductive success, which influenced here working practice. Thereafter, she spent some time working in arts and environmental education but continued to work as a artist.
In 2004 she was accepted by the RHS picture Committee and has exhibited several times.
She was invited to join the the Sydney Royal Botanic Garden Florilegium in 2013 and is a Fellow of the Linnean Society. Her work is featured in two of the Sydney Florilegium publications.
Dianne's work is in the permanent Collection at the Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation, (12th International) Pittsburgh, and in the Sydney Florilegium.
She exhibits nationally and internationally, most recently at the ASBA 19th International, at the New York Design Center, where her work, Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra'received an honorable mention.
In 2016 her painting of Strongylogon macrobotrys, was exhibited at the Museum of Sydney and in 2018 it travelled back to the UK, where it was exhibited at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Kew
In 2020 she completed her entry, Lessertia frutescens, for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Florilegium which was exhibited at Leith House.
In 2022 Dianne was awarded Best in Show at the Flora of South East Asia exhibition for her painting of Stelechocarpus burahol, you can read about the painting on her blog . A collaboration between societies in Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and with the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The exhibition was organised by the the Botanical Art Society Singapore and in July 2023 the exhibition will travel to Vietnam, where it will be shown at the Del la Sol Sun Life Center.
Dianne enjoys travelling to paint and teach and is currently working on a long term project documenting the Lathyrus genus and is writing a book about painting on vellum to be published in late 2024.
She continues to work as a commercial illustrator, tutor of Botanical Art and writes a regular blog.