RHS Gold Medal 2023 – Hornbeams, Adaption & Transformation
This portfolio was exhibited at the 2023 RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show at the Saatchi Gallery, London, and was award an RHS Gold Medal.
This collection of six images demonstrates the ability of native hornbeam trees to regenerate, create adaptive growth and transform according to the changing conditions where they grow. Hornbeams can live up to 300 years and can have an extended life if they have been coppiced or pollarded.
Layout plan shows:
Top Row, Left to Right The first tree is a lapsed hornbeam pollard that has aged with distinctive fluted furrows and grown with an intriguing helical twist. The second has an exposed root system, possibly due to soil erosion. The top right-hand image is an ancient, hollowed hornbeam, with a large open cavity which has created a roll of adaptive growth to help keep it upright.
Bottom Row The first tree is walking across the landscape in slow motion, it has partially collapsed, and its lower limbs are taking root and forming a new tree (known as layering). In the middle image are two veteran hornbeams propping up one another with the long-term potential of naturally grafting together. The final tree has been partially windblown and responded with phoenix regeneration, known as a ‘harp’ tree.
With their fascinating shapes and forms, these incredible trees have adapted and survived over time to their changing environment. I hope that these characteristics will enable our hornbeam trees to adapt quickly enough to the pressures of climate change. These magnificent trees were found in forests in my home county of Essex, UK.
If you would like to purchase any of these as fine art giclee prints, please contact me
RHS Silver Gilt Medal 2019 – Diversity of Beech Trees
This portfolio was exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society Botanical Art & Photography Show in 2019 and awarded an RHS Silver Gilt Medal.
It demonstrates the diversity of shape and forms of the Common Beech tree, Fagus sylvatica in the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest. The images were taken during my one-year artist residency called ‘You Can’t See the Trees for the Woods’. Whilst there I encountered many awe-inspiring lapsed Beech pollards (characteristic of Epping Forest), ancient multi-stemmed coppice stools with eroded roots, and a combination of both called coppards. These coppards are lapsed coppice stools which have also been pollarded at a later date and are believed to be hundreds of years old. Interestingly these small groups of trees are genetically identical, and all come into leaf at exactly the same time, does this make them one big tree?
During my trips to Epping Forest I would often spend an hour photographing just one tree. I would walk around to see how the light interplayed with its shape, quirky form and varied textures. I would listen to the surrounding sounds, watch the wildlife and smell the earthy forest aroma. The longer I was there the more I understood the different characteristics of each tree so I could make the individual stand out from the crowded forest.
IGPOTY 2018 Action Oak Category – Celebrating Our Oaks
2nd Place – Ancient Oak Reflection
Finalist – Black-a-Tor Copse
Highly Commended – Great Windsor Oak
Some Other Awards
2018 ARPS – Associate Distinction of the Royal Photographic Society – Member Profile
2018 BWPA ‘Ancient Beech & its Fungi’ shortlisted in ‘Habitats’ Category
2017/2018 Arts Council England Funding for year long project at City of London’s Epping Forest called “You Can’t See the Trees for the Woods”
2016 LRPS – Licentiate Distinction of the Royal Photographic Society (LRPS)
IGPOTY 10 Monochrome Photo Project, Commended ‘Kew Greenhouse Puddle’
IGPOTY 9, Greening the City Category, Finalist ‘Brisbane Street Tree’ and Highly Commended ‘Reach for the Sky’
2014 Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) UK Photography Competition ‘Split Tree’, Winner of ‘Terrific Trees’ Category & publicly voted overall winner of competition