As humans, we have a complex relationship with plants, and my botanical art explores various facets of this relationship. This exploration includes reflecting on the meanings and feelings that plants can convey or embody for different groups of people. I have long been inspired by the power of botanical illustrations to highlight the intricate details of plants to aid botanists in plant identification whilst at the same time conveying a feeling of peacefulness and tranquillity. I explore this power in my work through the use of creative photographic techniques. A lightbox is employed to bring out the fine details in plants, and I digitally paint in elements from multiple exposures to create compositions which blur the lines between photography and illustration. Through my art, I explore issues which are important to me, such as LGBTQ+ history and rights, awareness of chronic illnesses and the importance of biodiversity. My Timeless Botanicals series explored the style of vintage botanical illustrations. This exploration involved creating arrangements using cuttings from the plant, which were influenced by this style. These arrangements were photographed on a lightbox and digitally processed to incorporate scanned pages from antique books to produce the finished designs.
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About

Alex is a creative botanical photographer from London, England. Although he has received no formal training in the arts, being creative in various forms has always been an important outlet for him. He has found that it enables him to tackle and process the many challenges he has faced, from battling anxiety to coping with the chronic pain and fatigue caused by his disability. Alex expresses his creativity in a variety of forms, including sewing, crochet, mosaics and photography. As a lecturer at King’s College London, he explores the use of crafts and making to make STEM disciplines more inclusive and accessible.