With the arrival of Spring, it’s the perfect time to celebrate some of our talented botanical artists, who find endless inspiration in the native wildflowers, ancient eucalypts, vibrant gardens and swathes of sub-tropical rainforest that flourish in the Northern Rivers.
Written by Alison Bone
A centuries old tradition, botanical art first evolved to depict plants through fine line drawings and sometimes water colours. In the days before cameras, it was the only way to visually record the natural world which has always held humanity in its thrall. Contemporary botanical artists continue to honour the exquisite beauty of plant life, often pushing the boundaries of botanical representation to include multimedia, sonography and installations - while staying true to its essence - an expression of nature that fills us with joy and wonder. We chat with three local artists, each with their own unique style.
Donna Stain
Donna’s love of all things botanical dates back to childhood and was inspired by her mother’s passion for her garden. “I always wanted to do something creative, and flowers bring so much joy,” says the conceptual artist and floral designer, who specialises in site specific botanical installations for brands, weddings, events and editorial. Living in Europe for a number of years, she collaborated on artistic projects worldwide, and was the floral artist at the iconic Hotel Arts in Barcelona, where she worked with “truckloads of flowers,” every week. “Opening flower boxes made me feel like a kid at Christmas, but with so many miles to arrive to my little hands it dawned on me how wasteful the industry can be. It was not at all what I am about as a nature lover.”
Driven to keep her creations sustainable and to work with locally sourced material in a way that was respectful to the environment and the community, Donna moved to Murwillumbah in 2023 and took over a warehouse. “It was an experimental year and a chance to be as wild and crazy as nature. People would pass by and ask, ‘do you want this,’ as they lugged in big old trees or huge strips of bark, giant leaves and flowers,” she says. “And I would hang them upside down and spend the day collaborating with the natural abundance of my immediate surroundings.” The results - which included magnificent suspended orbs - were dramatic.
For Donna it's all about honouring the generosity of nature and she finds endless inspiration in "the sensual drape of casuarina” along the coast, wildflowers foraged in the bush, and vibrant blooms from local organic flower growers such as the Love Garden. Much more than botanical displays, her installations are a multi-sensory experience, a performance art where the space is the stage and flowers are her characters - whether creating a botanical rainbow serpent for this year’s Kinship Festival or fashioning bespoke botanical headwear for brands such as Valley Eyewear. @donnastain
Leree Lindsay
"I am inspired by everything that grows around here, there’s always something flowering and there’s colour everywhere in the garden,” says artist Leree Lindsay. Working from her home studio, set on a farm in the Byron hinterland surrounded by native bushland and flourishing gardens, Leree’s paintings depict flowers, foliage, and fruit. “I've explored other subjects, but flowers and foliage always draw me back with their inherent beauty and texture,” she says. Using a palette knife to thickly apply oil paint, Leree evokes a wonderful sense of movement and gesture. Most of her subjects come from her own garden, local markets, and Flower House, Newrybar - who only source flowers from local growers. “I feel so blessed living here, everything flourishes because of the heat and rain; and with every change of season a new colour palette is on display.”
Beyond the landscape, Leree also draws inspiration from the sense of space in the Northern Rivers. “Life is slower and quieter here, allowing time to explore your creativity,” she explains. “I have a group of friends that are passionate artists, we meet regularly to share ideas, visit galleries and support each other’s art practice.” Leree’s works grace galleries such as Pack Gallery in Byron Bay, The Old Pacific in Newrybar, and numerous other venues across Australia. @lereelindsayart
Mia Forrest
Creating art deeply rooted in the natural world, Mia Forrest is a multidisciplinary artist who lives on the edge of Nightcap National Park and exhibits globally. “Nightcap is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, so to connect with such ancient history is a great privilege not to be understated. Given such fertile grounds and soil in the Northern Rivers region, we are also surrounded by wonderful flower farmers, so have direct access to ethically grown flowers and knowledge,” says Mia. Her Bloom series - which includes Red Flowering Gum, Waratah and Bush Candle Banksia - saw her awarded the Wollumbin Art Award Emerging Artist 2022 and blends the ephemeral beauty of flowers with digital generative processing.
“Botany has always been the great revered subject of artists across mediums, from the Dutch Masters to our very own Margaret Olley's still lifes, to photography and camera/printing technologies. I simply use technological tools that are available to me today, which offers a novel way of interpreting botany and nature, albeit more abstract,” says Mia. Recent work includes Seasons, created with biodata (measured electrical conductivity) extracted from botanicals for each respective season, and sonified into frequencies. "I view the work as an intimate collaboration between nature, its hidden intrinsic energetic code, and myself,” says Mia. @miaforrest.jpg
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