Shirley Slocock – Study of Seaweed

Watercolour on Paper

Price Includes VAT

Listed Dimensions Unframed

British Seaweed

The varieties, subtleties and stunning colours of seaweed which I came across on my seaside walks, inspired me to try to capture their fascinating shapes, colours and luminosity.

Accompanied by my  much adored black Labrador Hector, our expeditions began, having firstly  researched how I could find different varieties of seaweed located in  accessible places. Our search took us from Surrey to Eastbourne, Birchington and Falmouth. Keeping the samples fresh and immersed in seawater was particularly challenging, as was trying to paint them while leaving them under a layer of water!  But I found a way through all this and. once I had the specimen safely back in my studio, had to work continuously before the colour changed and they shrivelled.

The next challenge was to identify the specimens correctly- a strict requirement of the Royal Horticultural Society where they were to be exhibited.  I have a reasonable knowledge of terrestrial plants, but these sea plants were a complete mystery to me!  I sought help from various learned bodies who were generous with their time in answering all my queries.  There was just one from whom I had a rather dismissive response.  Apparently, I had included a specimen which he classified as a colony of small animals!  Linnaeus in 1758 had classified this as seaweed, but this was later discredited as animal and not plant material. Just shows that even the most revered botanist can be mistaken!

Hector, age thirteen, has recently died but those wonderful memories of us together during our seashore expeditions will remain with me.  We both enjoyed it so much.

Fortunately for me, the RHS panel of judges were happy to accept the discrepancy – painting a collection of animals – and awarded me a gold medal for my collection.  A wonderful result all round!

Shirley Slocock, May 2022

Shirley is an internationally recognised botanical artist living and working in Surrey. She is a founder member of Amicus Botanicus, having completed a Diploma in Botanical Painting at the Physic Garden, London in 2004 and exhibited with them since that time. Her background in horticulture, together with her involvement in the family owned world famous nursery, led her to follow her dreams and enrol in the Diploma course.  She paints in watercolour and more recently has developed her skills with pencil, sometimes combining the two. This resulted in a series of drawings awarded a gold medal by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2017.

Shirley first exhibited in The Society of Botanical Artists in 2007 and has since shown widely in the UK, Australia and the USA. Her awards include the Daler Rowney award in 2007, a group silver medal and an individual silver-gilt medal at London RHS shows, finalist and Highly Commended for the Waterhouse Natural Prize, Adelaide, Australia and Best drawing and Highly Commended at Farnham Art Society’s annual show.

She is a member of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney and has exhibited with them in Australia and Kew Gardens.

Shirley is a Fellow of the Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Society with paintings in the Palace archive and is a member of Woking Art Society. She has paintings in collections worldwide.