Tulipa 2025

In late 2021, Jarnie decided to focus her practice on a new series of works for the Royal Horticultural Society. After being inspired by a particularly tall and elegant tulip on the Bayntun Flowers Instagram page of Polly Nicholson Jarnie began research on the species tulip varieties. Blending her love of structural elements with beauty and grace, Jarnie chose six species varieties and grew them from sourced bulbs from suppliers Peter Nyssen and Farmer Gracy.

During her preparations in 2023, Jarnie’s home suffered from a severe flood. On the verge of having to leave both the house and the tulips she had been cultivating, Jarnie noticed how the buds were already forming. A phrase which came to mind was, ‘there is a promise of pearls’. The project became a story of resilience, perseverance and the conquering of the unknown.

In the summer of 2025 the suite of paintings, ‘Tulipa: Species and Botanical Class Tulips’ featured in the RHS Botanical Art and Photography Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London. For her endeavour Jarnie was awarded a prestigious RHS Gold Medal.