Exploring the mystery of plants
Every painting tells a story. Throughout her practice as a botanical artist, Jarnie has continued to engage with subjects that spark a feeling, a conversation, and those which have character and, ‘a soul’.
‘I really want my paintings to engage and to enliven a conversation, a memory, an exploration. I see my botanical subjects almost as a portrait painter sees a person. I look for a unique personality which excites, intrigues and informs my painting. In my work I seek to know their character, and endeavour to embody this through each piece’.
Jarnie is a self-taught botanical artist painting realistic, detailed, and vibrant botanical watercolours. In 2025 she was awarded an RHS GOLD Medal for her series of watercolour paintings, ‘Tulipa: Species & Botanical Class Tulips’
Born in London, Jarnie has been a teacher, a graphic designer, and received a formal training in Architecture. The work Jarnie focuses on as a botanical artist combines her love of structure, vibrancy and detail, with precision and realism at its heart. Her passion for botanical painting lies in vivid colour, detail, and capturing beautiful, but not always perfect flowers at larger than life size.
Her work can be found in both private and public collections, including the prestigious Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh. In 2023 her first book, 'Vibrant Botanical Painting' was published by The Crowood Press, and in 2025 she was awarded a prestigious Gold Medal by the RHS for her botanical series ‘Tulipa’ .
Selected Exhibitions & Publications
2025 RHS Botanical Art & Photography Exhibition. Saatchi Gallery, London. RHS GOLD Medal. Tulipa: Species and Botanical class tulips
2025 SBA ‘Plantae’: 40th Anniversary Exhibition. Society of Botanical Artists. Mall Galleries. London. Millwall Park Roses
2024 SBA ‘Plantae’: Society of Botanical Artists. ‘Solitude’.
2023 ‘Vibrant Botanical Painting: The life of plants in watercolour’ published by The Crowood Press
2022 ‘Floreat’ Exhibition of Botanical Painting. Timothy Langston Gallery, Pimlico. London.
2021 RHS Botanical Art & Photography Exhibition. Saatchi Gallery, London. RHS Silver-Gilt Medal. Echinacea: Life in full colour
2018 16th International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration. Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh. ‘Waterlily’. Hunt Permanent collection.
2015 ‘The Irish Alphabet in Botanical Art’ group exhibition. National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. Glasnevin.
Get in touch.
If you would like to discuss a purchase, a commission, or have a project in mind, it would be lovely to hear from you.
mail@jarniegodwinart.com