Hemerocallis “Dark Monkey” (Original SOLD) Artist Code 2402. Water colour on Aquarelle Arches 100% cotton rag 150lbs size 24” x 18”.

First completed 2nd July 2023, but later reworked 11th August to add more elements.

Sold at Iceni Botanical Artists Becket’s Chapel, Wymondham July 2024 Annual Art Exhibition.

This is a life size artwork using live material very kindly lent to me by Paula Dyason of Strictly Daylilies, Histon, Cambs. It was originally intended to be part of my submission to the RHS, but I did not think it was good enough. So I framed it (size 23” x 29”) and put it in a botanical art exhibition for sale at £650 in mid-July 2024: it sold on the first day!!

The painting was selected for the Iceni Botanical Artist’s 2025 Calendar and I wrote this little poem as a picture caption:
“This hardy plant of many types
has thousands of colours and various stripes
Dark Monkey though is red-velvet and gold
with evergreen leaves so stunning and bold.”

I also featured it in my own 2025 Calendar with this little poem:
“Originally part of my RHS Project
I thought this painting was not a good object
So I mounted and framed it and put it on show
It sold straightaway which was a bit of a blow
I had altered my subject to submit for a medal
And now I am scuppered—that’ll teach me to meddle!!!”

And see Hemerocallis Selma Longlegs, the second painting for my RHS which proved a disaster!