My portfolio of six images called “Square Bananas” was selected for the RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show held at Saatchi Gallery in London (19 June to 2 August 2026). I’m delighted to announce my work was awarded an RHS Silver-Gilt Medal.
The Subject
The portfolio is six square images of the leaves of banana plants. The first row is images of Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ (Abyssinian Banana) and the second row is Musa basjoo (Japanese Banana).
They were captured in Fox Rosehill Gardens, a public sub-tropical garden in Falmouth, Cornwall. Sometimes described as an oasis, I often walk there from my home to look for photographic subjects. It’s a favourite venue in the summer as the deep shade cast by the many mature trees offers a cool respite from the hot, busy beaches and other open spaces nearby.
All the leaves are removed in the winter and the banana plants wrapped in fleece as protection from the cold. It is amazing to see the speed at which the large colourful leaves appear through the spring and summer. I chose to concentrate on small sections of the leaves partly because they are often damaged by wind and become increasingly tatty. Consequently getting a clean, unspoiled subject isn’t always easy to find!
Image Selection
The six images have a consistent style and required minimal post-processing. They each display gorgeous detail along with the rich colours of these exotic leaves. The images alternate between the midribs, showing textures, patterns and lines, and the leaf-edge details, contrasting the bright jewel-like colours with deep, dark shadows. I feel this contrast leads to interesting shapes and adds drama.
The colours are intensified by being backlit and the images featuring a midrib are all lit in this way, highlighting the patterns created by the structure of the leaf. The other images of the leaf-edge details accentuate the shape and form of the lovely sweeping curves and the interplay of the leaf with light and shadow.
All the images in “Square Bananas” are available as limited edition prints and if you would like more information please contact me.
Judging and the Preview Event
The photography portfolios are judged for horticultural content, photographic quality and overall impression. The artist’s submission includes a written statement, label text and hanging plan along with the images.
It’s an honour to have been awarded an RHS Silver-gilt medal and to have my work hanging in Saatchi Gallery in London alongside the work of some incredible photographers and artists, some of whom I met at the Preview event on 18 June 2026.
I thought I’d travelled a good distance from Cornwall to attend the exhibition in London but artists had travelled from overseas to be a part of such as a prestigious show. Interestingly I met exhibitors from the United States of America, Ukraine, France, South Africa and Japan. It can definitely be said it was a truly international celebration of the botanical world.
Six of the awards (Best Portfolio, Best Single Image and Judges’ Special Award for the photography entries as well as Best Botanical Art Exhibit, Best Botanical Artwork and Judges’ Special Award for the artwork entries) were announced and presented during the prize-giving.
People’s Choice
Meanwhile there is one final award…for the People’s Choice. This means you can select your favourite Photography Portfolio as well as your favourite Botanical Art Exhibit. Voting is open now and closes on 26 July 2026 so do follow the link and make your choice.
