There’s something magical about the May Day weekend in Sussex: the promise of longer days, gardens in bloom, folk traditions, and now a brand-new cultural moment to mark in your diary. From 1 to 4 May, the historic grounds of West Dean set the stage for the very first ROSA Botanical Art Fair: a fresh celebration of art inspired by the natural world.
ROSA Botanical Art Fair isn’t your typical botanical showcase. Yes, you will find exquisite floral studies and detailed observations, but it is just as much about pushing boundaries as it is about honouring tradition.
At the heart of the fair is a selected group of over 100 galleries and artists each bringing their own perspective on flora, landscape, and nature.
20th-Century Pioneers
The line up of Modern masters is headed by Andy Warhol, with an early botanical drawing on show with Ottocento. The Petworth gallery is also showing work by Bernard Myers whose pastel flowers become vehicles for vivid colour, rhythm, and compositional design. These are shown alongside works by Phyllis Bray, a gifted artist and illustrator whose free and poetic vision was shaped by her involvement with the East London Art Group and her close association with another featured artist Hans Feibusch.
Among the Modern British works to look out for at ROSA Botanical Art Fair are two fine woodcuts by Paul Nash, including Black Poplar Pond (1922), and Prunella Clough’s elegant etching and aquatint, Mirror and Plant (1996), all on Austin/Desmond Fine Art’s stand. Poppies II: Will You Marry Me Again and Again? is the title of a painting on shaped board by Anthony Green HonRBA HonROI LG NEAC (1939-2023), on show with legendary London gallerist, Chris Beetles. One of the world’s leading galleries for British watercolours, oils, illustrations, cartoons and figurative sculptures, Beetles is also showing works by Beatrice Parsons (1869-1955) and Leslie Fotherby (b.1946).
Stretching the Canvas
Among the contemporary artists, Kate Montgomery (showing with Natasha O’Kane Sussex Contemporary Art) captures the intimacy of garden spaces, where every scene feels layered with meaning and story. Julian Le Bas depicts trees and blossoms with a sense of place that feels both grounded and deeply personal. There’s a familiarity in his work that resonates, especially for those who know the Sussex countryside. Nick Bodimeade’s paintings draw you into the world of ponds and plant structures. And there’s Linda Felcey, whose expressive paintings explore the fleeting nature of flowers.
Nina Jex (previously Magpie) brings a selection of exciting botanical artists to the fair.
ROSA Botanical Art Fair is pleased to introduce an exciting range of selected independent floral artists. Orlanda Broom’s large-scale floral works are lush and mysterious. Emma Palmer, meanwhile, creates canvases that explode with an unapologetic use of colour while Liz English often embellishes her paintings with freeform embroidery and collage. Jude Askey-Brown latest large-scale works draw on memories of flowers – in particular ones of windowsills at her grandfather’s house,
Still Life, Still Living
Jo Kemp, Dianna Jazwinski and Lisa Unwin are among the artists giving the still life genre a contemporary voice.
Society of Botanical Artists
Grounding the Fair in its scientific and illustrative roots, the Society of Botanical Artists is curating a standalone exhibition of work in the Estate Boardroom showing work by 18 of its members.
Digging deep
Elsewhere, the fair delves into the intricate systems that underpin the natural world. Tom Lee and TREESCAPES use photography to uncover the architecture of forests and the hidden communication structures within them. ROSA’s charity partner Forests without Frontiers brings a strong environmental focus and big names, such as Radiohead collaborator Stanley Donwood.
3D
One of the Fair’s most exciting qualities is its openness to different mediums. This isn’t just a painting fair, it’s a space for sculpture, textiles, and design. The Old Dining Room sees a ‘Craft Banquet’ of ceramics, glass and textiles curated by Dr Loucia Manopolou from Newlands House Gallery in partnership with Design Nation Member, mixed-media artist, Kas Williams.
Other 3D highlights include works by the pioneer of textile art, Tadek Beutlich shown in partnership with Eastbourne gallerist, Emma Mason, along with sculptures carved from trees by legendary Sussex artist John Hitchens represented by Elspeth Moncrieff-Bray.
A huge soft sculpture by rising art star and agent provocateur, Abigail Norris takes centre stage in the Old Library, alongside a film and large- scale drawing installation by Judith Alder. A solo show of futuristic sculptures by Annie Trevorah can be found in the Music Room.
New glass jewellery by award-winning Alexis Dove is on display in the Art + Design marquee, along with beautiful nature inspired designs by Phoebe Sherwood, Alexandra Simmons, Vivienne Ridley and Julian Warrender. Gorgeous new prints and textiles by renowned Brighton designer, Sarah Arnett are on show here too; as are complex mixed-media compositions inspired by Japanese traditions by Graham Gosling and delicate collaged works by award-winning artist Jade Taylor.
A welcome newcomer to Sussex is Milado Gallery, an international gallery championing emerging artists with a special focus on talent from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Stars of her dynamic stand are botanical embroidery by Olga Prinku, and ‘Balloonized Realism’ paintings by Tatiana Fetisova. Certainly ones to watch!
ROSA: Where tradition meets innovation
ROSA Botanical Art Fair sets out to create a genuine dialogue between tradition and innovation, observation and imagination. The overall aim is to show botanical art reimagined, rooted in history, yet brimming with contemporary energy and insight.
Book your tickets now – Use the Discount Code ROSA10 to get 10% of tickets.