Tina's Fine Art UK

Picture Profile 2302: Galanthus gracilis.

In January 2022, the Iceni Botanical Artists, IBA (of which I am a member, and Chair from November 2021–), decided that their next botanical project would be to paint a year of the flora and fauna in Fullers Mill Garden, West Stow, Suffolk, designed and planted by Bernard Tickner and his wife, Bess. It was decided that it should be a two-year project and completion of all artworks was set for 1st January 2024.

Annie Delbridge, head gardener (with permission from the Charity Perennial who now look after the garden) supplied the IBA with a list of plants which grow in the garden and the animals, birds, insects, fish etc., which live in or visit the garden. Iceni Artists have been free to choose which plants, vistas and fauna they would like to depict and it is hoped that we will hold an exhibition of all the artworks, as well as publishing a book with a selection of paintings.

My main task for the project is to paint 12 snowdrops – some rare, some not so, and others which are different, for example, white and yellow flowers and parts, rather than white and green, and most with a connection to East Anglia.

Artist Code 2302. Galanthus gracilis. Water colour on Aquarelle Arches 100% cotton paper 140lb. 10″ x 14″. Completed 1st March 2023

This is the fourth in a series of 12 paintings of snowdrops for the IBA Fullers Mill Project. This slender, delicate flower, with twisted pencil leaves was not on the original list of 12. But another which was to be painted (Galanthus jacquenetta) failed to grow properly so I was asked to include the gracilis instead.

Galanthus gracilis is a distinctive garden plant with twisted, glaucous narrow leaves. Both the plant and the flowers are smaller than most snowdrop species.