Scottish Society of Botanical Artists (SSBA)
The society was formed on the 18th June 2014 by a group of enthusiastic botanical artists from a variety of backgrounds with the aim of creating a botanical art society in Scotland that would be open to all.
The SSBA, as a Registered Charity (SC045778), is dedicated to nurturing and promoting botanical art, while respecting its traditions.
We aim to provide a forum to share and disseminate knowledge and expertise in all aspects of botanical art; encouraging a high standard of artistic achievement and providing a platform for the exhibition of botanical art in Scotland.
News
We are delighted to announce that we have received a grant of £2,000 from the William Syson Foundation.
The William Syson Foundation was established in 2012. An enthusiastic and long-time supporter of music and the visual arts, particularly in Scotland, William Syson’s objective in setting up the Foundation was to help provide opportunities for practice and enjoyment of the arts, and to assist and encourage the country’s next generation of musical and artistic talent.
The support provided by the Foundation will help us secure and provide the exhibition facilities for botanical artists across Scotland and the public access to the World Wide Day of Botanical Art and the Botanical Scotia exhibition in 2025.
Botanical Scotia resources for the Worldwide Day of Botanical Art in 2025
Heritage crops, diversity & sustainability
This exhibition will focus on celebrating biodiversity in the crops that have been closely associated with the human species over thousands of years, specifically; Heritage Crops, Crop Wild Relatives and Ancient Crops. Please download the guidelines to find more in-depth information on these categories and how to enter.
Botanical Scotia resources for the Worldwide Day of Botanical Art in 2025 are now available for you to access including;
The full Guidelines to Artists
Contemporary Botanical Art 17 January – 25 February 2024
This exhibition presents new work by members of the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists (SSBA) alongside sculptures by Ellen McCann. For this exhibition, and to reflect the charitable aims of the SOC, the artists have taken their inspiration from plants found in the wild in Scotland. These plants, wild flowers, trees, brambles and weeds form part of the habitat of wild birds and pollinators, and indeed visiting birds and insects are included in some of the paintings! The SSBA promotes and encourages botanical art in Scotland. It is an inclusive organisation whose membership ranges from those relatively new to botanical art to professional artists. They work in a variety of media including watercolour, acrylic, coloured pencil, graphite and ink.
The paintings are accompanied by sculptures by Ellen McCann. Her ceramic sculptures are inspired by plants in transition – gently moving towards opening up, inviting us to imagine what they might become. Ellen’s sculptures are made with stoneware clay constructed using slabs and coils, then carved, glazed and fired to 1250 degrees. They can be placed indoors or outdoors, and indeed there will be some sculptures in the garden at the SOC. Ellen is the recipient of a number of awards and travelling scholarships. She is based near Biggar.
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC)
Waterston House, Aberlady, EH32 0PY
Open Wed-Sun (10-4)
www.the-soc.org.uk
About the SOC: the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) promotes the study, conservation and enjoyment of wild birds and their habitats in Scotland.
AS a Charity THe SSBA is solely funded by money raised through membership and exhibitions, if you would like to donate to us please use the following forms :
Our grateful thanks to The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society https://thecaley.org.uk/ and Giclee UK for their ongoing support.
Thank to the Finnis Scott Foundation for the Biennial award that funded the Introductory and Intermediate Botanical Art workshops in Aviemore and Dumfries from 2022 to 2024.