Artist Summary
Fiona is a multi-disciplinary ethnobotanical artist based in Aberdeen. Plants remain central to her artistic practice, but she has found a renewed passion in creating portraits that capture the intimate connections between people and the land.
While she still depicts identifiable plants in a scientific context, Fiona now immerses herself in the environments where these plants thrive.
Her landscape drawings and accompanying photographs enhance her portrait work, allowing her to tell stories that intertwine individual experiences with the natural world.
This evolution in her art reflects her childhood memories of collecting sea thrift and grasses along the shores of Aberdeen, infusing her eclectic collection of artworks with a deep sense of place and personal connection.
While she still depicts identifiable plants in a scientific context, Fiona now immerses herself in the environments where these plants thrive.
Her landscape drawings and accompanying photographs enhance her portrait work, allowing her to tell stories that intertwine individual experiences with the natural world.
This evolution in her art reflects her childhood memories of collecting sea thrift and grasses along the shores of Aberdeen, infusing her eclectic collection of artworks with a deep sense of place and personal connection.
Education
MA Fine Art - Painting 2017-2019 Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
DipSBA Botanical Illustration 2008-2011 Society of Botanical Artists, St. Albans, UK
HNC Graphic Art and Design 1989 – 1991 Ruthrieston College, Aberdeen, UK
two-month artist internship 1990 creating hand drawn illustrations for airbrush artworks, to be used for publication, Alan Whyte Associates, Collieston
1982-84 Photography Assistant Mentored by Victor Tomaszewski-Thom - studio and location photography, darkroom excellence, photographic enhancing, framing and gilding. Chapel Studios, Aberdeen
DipSBA Botanical Illustration 2008-2011 Society of Botanical Artists, St. Albans, UK
HNC Graphic Art and Design 1989 – 1991 Ruthrieston College, Aberdeen, UK
two-month artist internship 1990 creating hand drawn illustrations for airbrush artworks, to be used for publication, Alan Whyte Associates, Collieston
1982-84 Photography Assistant Mentored by Victor Tomaszewski-Thom - studio and location photography, darkroom excellence, photographic enhancing, framing and gilding. Chapel Studios, Aberdeen
Recent Activity
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Solo Exhibitions
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Joint Exhibitions
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Commissions
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Awards
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Residences
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Talks | Demos | Classes | Workshops
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2025 CONNECTIONS - Studio exhibition, Aberdeen.
2024 TULIPA - Bonnymuir Green, exhibition space, Aberdeen
2023 DRAWINGS and PORTRAITURE - opened studio for Wasps Open Studios
2023 GREEN - Castlegate Framing, Aberdeen
2022 SEED HEADS - opened studio for WASPS Open Studios
2022 MICROSCOPIC plant sketches and studies - opened studio for NEOS week
2021 CURRENT WORK - opened studio for WASPS Open Studios
2019 SPHAGNUM - Masters Show 2019, Gray's School of Art
2019 SPHAGNUM - Concourse Gallery, Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
2018 DIGITALIS - 2018 ALLOTMENT and DIGITALIS (WIP) - the 2018 Masters Show, Gray's School of Art
2017/8 GINKGO - Rosemount Osteopathy Surgery, Aberdeen
2017 ROSE and SEED HEADS - NEOS, Garden Studio and exhibition of work, Ferryhill, Aberdeen
2015 BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATIONS - Exhibition of ink and watercolour work, NEOS, home studio, Aberdeen
2012 BOTANICAL, Stonehaven
2011 SBA Diploma Portfolio Exhibition of Botanical paintings - AGR, Aberdeen
2009 THE SHORES OF ABERDEEN - TRACS, Aberdeen
2024 TULIPA - Bonnymuir Green, exhibition space, Aberdeen
2023 DRAWINGS and PORTRAITURE - opened studio for Wasps Open Studios
2023 GREEN - Castlegate Framing, Aberdeen
2022 SEED HEADS - opened studio for WASPS Open Studios
2022 MICROSCOPIC plant sketches and studies - opened studio for NEOS week
2021 CURRENT WORK - opened studio for WASPS Open Studios
2019 SPHAGNUM - Masters Show 2019, Gray's School of Art
2019 SPHAGNUM - Concourse Gallery, Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
2018 DIGITALIS - 2018 ALLOTMENT and DIGITALIS (WIP) - the 2018 Masters Show, Gray's School of Art
2017/8 GINKGO - Rosemount Osteopathy Surgery, Aberdeen
2017 ROSE and SEED HEADS - NEOS, Garden Studio and exhibition of work, Ferryhill, Aberdeen
2015 BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATIONS - Exhibition of ink and watercolour work, NEOS, home studio, Aberdeen
2012 BOTANICAL, Stonehaven
2011 SBA Diploma Portfolio Exhibition of Botanical paintings - AGR, Aberdeen
2009 THE SHORES OF ABERDEEN - TRACS, Aberdeen
Joint Exhibitions recent
2026
Studio North, Inaugural Exhibition, Aberdeen
2025
Castlegate Gallery, Winter Exhibition, Aberdeen
The Meffan Winter Exhibition, Forfar
Castlegate Gallery, Autumn Exhibition, Aberdeen
Trinity Buoy Wharf Working Drawing Prize, Finalist, London and UK Tour until September 2026
Evelyn Williams Drawing Award Finalist
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
2024
Scottish Portrait Awards, at the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh; Duff House, Banff; and the Charles Rennie Macintosh Gallery at the Glasgow Art Club until March 2025
2023
Peacocks Winter Show - The Print Room, Aberdeen
Wasps Winter Exhibition
Society of Scottish Artists, 30 x 30 members show
Meffan Winter Show, Meffan Museum & Art Gallery, Forfar, Angus
Scottish Prize for Fine Art Exhibition, the Charles Rennie Macintosh Gallery, Glasgow Art Club, Glasgow.
Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize Finalist, including Exhibition in London and UK Tour until September 2024
Evelyn Williams Drawing Award Finalist
Sutherland Independent Scottish Portrait Awards - Fine Art Long List Online Exhibition
Alt D: Through Drawing - Arkade Gallery, The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen
Where Ideas are Born,- Aberdeen Art Gallery - local artist studio space presentation
2022
Scottish Portrait Awards - Fine Art Long List Online Exhibition
Wasps Winter Exhibition
2021
Society of Scottish Artists, 30 x 30 members show, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Wasps Winter Exhibition
Joint older
2020
Society of Scottish Artists, 30 x 30 members show
Wasps Winter Exhibition
Gray’s Entrepreneurship Exhibition (online)
2019
Wasps Winter Exhibiton
SPHAGNUM - MA Exposition 4, Gray's School of Art
2018
DIGITALIS - MA Exposition 3, Gray's School of Art
Artists Open Studios and small works exhibition, WASPS Langstane, Aberdeen.
2017
SPHAGNUM (WIP) and other plants - MA Exposition 2, Gray's School of Art
ROSE WHITE - MA Exposition 1, Gray's School of Art
Photoghost, Aberdeen
2016
Catparade, Rotary Club, Aberdeen
WASPS Artists, Under the Hammer, Aberdeen
Northern Arts Club, Aberdeen - Annual Exhibition
2015
Arduthie Guest House, Stonehaven
Pintar Rapido, Glasgow - street painter and exhibitor
Art Aboyne - Annual Art Exhibition invited artist
2014
WASPS Artists, Under the Hammer, Aberdeen
Camphill Wellbeing Trust, Aberdeen
2026
Studio North, Inaugural Exhibition, Aberdeen
2025
Castlegate Gallery, Winter Exhibition, Aberdeen
The Meffan Winter Exhibition, Forfar
Castlegate Gallery, Autumn Exhibition, Aberdeen
Trinity Buoy Wharf Working Drawing Prize, Finalist, London and UK Tour until September 2026
Evelyn Williams Drawing Award Finalist
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
2024
Scottish Portrait Awards, at the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh; Duff House, Banff; and the Charles Rennie Macintosh Gallery at the Glasgow Art Club until March 2025
2023
Peacocks Winter Show - The Print Room, Aberdeen
Wasps Winter Exhibition
Society of Scottish Artists, 30 x 30 members show
Meffan Winter Show, Meffan Museum & Art Gallery, Forfar, Angus
Scottish Prize for Fine Art Exhibition, the Charles Rennie Macintosh Gallery, Glasgow Art Club, Glasgow.
Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize Finalist, including Exhibition in London and UK Tour until September 2024
Evelyn Williams Drawing Award Finalist
Sutherland Independent Scottish Portrait Awards - Fine Art Long List Online Exhibition
Alt D: Through Drawing - Arkade Gallery, The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen
Where Ideas are Born,- Aberdeen Art Gallery - local artist studio space presentation
2022
Scottish Portrait Awards - Fine Art Long List Online Exhibition
Wasps Winter Exhibition
2021
Society of Scottish Artists, 30 x 30 members show, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Wasps Winter Exhibition
Joint older
2020
Society of Scottish Artists, 30 x 30 members show
Wasps Winter Exhibition
Gray’s Entrepreneurship Exhibition (online)
2019
Wasps Winter Exhibiton
SPHAGNUM - MA Exposition 4, Gray's School of Art
2018
DIGITALIS - MA Exposition 3, Gray's School of Art
Artists Open Studios and small works exhibition, WASPS Langstane, Aberdeen.
2017
SPHAGNUM (WIP) and other plants - MA Exposition 2, Gray's School of Art
ROSE WHITE - MA Exposition 1, Gray's School of Art
Photoghost, Aberdeen
2016
Catparade, Rotary Club, Aberdeen
WASPS Artists, Under the Hammer, Aberdeen
Northern Arts Club, Aberdeen - Annual Exhibition
2015
Arduthie Guest House, Stonehaven
Pintar Rapido, Glasgow - street painter and exhibitor
Art Aboyne - Annual Art Exhibition invited artist
2014
WASPS Artists, Under the Hammer, Aberdeen
Camphill Wellbeing Trust, Aberdeen
2025 Sister and Brother - private commission, double portrait drawing, Canada
2020 Ginkgo biloba – School How to Guide and video - Aberdeen City Council
2018 Street Sport, Denis Law Legacy Trust - 7 x Kelly's Cats, Commission, RGU Sport, Aberdeen
2017 Dragonflies (polyptych - 7 canvases) in oil on linen canvases, Austria
2017 How to paint an Orchid in Watercolour - Artists and Illustrators Magazine
2017 Step-by-step guide: paint a Physalis Plant - Artists and Illustrators Magazine
2016 Drawing Invertebrates presentation and video - Aberdeen University
2014 Freesia botanical painting, West Scotland
2014 Iris botanical painting, Deeside, Scotland
2010 Limpets near Stonehaven Swimming Pool, the Mearns, Scotland
2010 Larch, Stonehaven, the Mearns, Scotland
2020 Ginkgo biloba – School How to Guide and video - Aberdeen City Council
2018 Street Sport, Denis Law Legacy Trust - 7 x Kelly's Cats, Commission, RGU Sport, Aberdeen
2017 Dragonflies (polyptych - 7 canvases) in oil on linen canvases, Austria
2017 How to paint an Orchid in Watercolour - Artists and Illustrators Magazine
2017 Step-by-step guide: paint a Physalis Plant - Artists and Illustrators Magazine
2016 Drawing Invertebrates presentation and video - Aberdeen University
2014 Freesia botanical painting, West Scotland
2014 Iris botanical painting, Deeside, Scotland
2010 Limpets near Stonehaven Swimming Pool, the Mearns, Scotland
2010 Larch, Stonehaven, the Mearns, Scotland
2021 Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards: Funded by Creative Scotland and Aberdeen City Council. As an established artist, Awarded a bursary to progress her art practice through the purchase of a digital microscope and surfaces to create a new body of work.
2020 Creative Entrepreneurship postgraduate course at Robert Gordon University, supported by Scottish Funding Council, Upskilling funds
2020 Sustaining Life as a Creative programme Funded by Aberdeen City Council.
2020 Creative Entrepreneurship postgraduate course at Robert Gordon University, supported by Scottish Funding Council, Upskilling funds
2020 Sustaining Life as a Creative programme Funded by Aberdeen City Council.
2020, Artist in Residence for the Ginkgo biloba project and school children’s art projects in collaboration with the Park Rangers, Duthie Park, David Welch Winter Gardens, Aberdeen
North East of Scotland
2024 Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh
Talk about my art practice and about the selected painting, Imelda - Soil Scientist
2010-2023, Stonehaven Art Club, Upper Deeside Art Club, Garthdee Field Allotments Association, Deeside Care Home, Northern Arts Club, Rosemount Community Centre Arts, Carron Art Club, Woodend Barn, Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums, the Maritime Museum, Friends of Cruickshank Botanical Gardens, Aberdeen University.
Northern Arts Club, Aberdeen
2015-2018 Art Tutor in Drawing and Watercolour practices on a Botanical theme
Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums
2015-2016 two Botanical Workshops honing in on the plants associated with the Jacobites, Maritime Museum, Aberdeen
Woodend Barn, Banchory
2014 - 2016 Art Tutor for workshops and classes
Aberdeen University
2016 Guest Lecturer, tutoring all 240 first-year biology students in three half-day sessions on how to draw invertebrates.
2016 Invited Guest Speaker at the Inaugural Taxonomy Club meeting - to give a talk about her botanical art background and taught the 130 attendees to draw Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine) cones and needles.
2014 Invited Artist to develop and run a day workshop on drawing poppies - 'Clockwork' Botanicals Workshop, Poppy themed to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.
Woodend Barn, Banchory
2014 Invited Botanical Artist to devise and run a series of eight botanical sketching and painting classes on for groups of 8-12 years, 13-18 years and adults, themed to coincide with the Lavender project at the Barn over four weeks.
2024 Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh
Talk about my art practice and about the selected painting, Imelda - Soil Scientist
2010-2023, Stonehaven Art Club, Upper Deeside Art Club, Garthdee Field Allotments Association, Deeside Care Home, Northern Arts Club, Rosemount Community Centre Arts, Carron Art Club, Woodend Barn, Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums, the Maritime Museum, Friends of Cruickshank Botanical Gardens, Aberdeen University.
Northern Arts Club, Aberdeen
2015-2018 Art Tutor in Drawing and Watercolour practices on a Botanical theme
Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums
2015-2016 two Botanical Workshops honing in on the plants associated with the Jacobites, Maritime Museum, Aberdeen
Woodend Barn, Banchory
2014 - 2016 Art Tutor for workshops and classes
Aberdeen University
2016 Guest Lecturer, tutoring all 240 first-year biology students in three half-day sessions on how to draw invertebrates.
2016 Invited Guest Speaker at the Inaugural Taxonomy Club meeting - to give a talk about her botanical art background and taught the 130 attendees to draw Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine) cones and needles.
2014 Invited Artist to develop and run a day workshop on drawing poppies - 'Clockwork' Botanicals Workshop, Poppy themed to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.
Woodend Barn, Banchory
2014 Invited Botanical Artist to devise and run a series of eight botanical sketching and painting classes on for groups of 8-12 years, 13-18 years and adults, themed to coincide with the Lavender project at the Barn over four weeks.