A Trip to Kew Gardens

A Silver Arts Award Gallery Review

I’m Bea, studying the Silver Arts Award. For my award, I went to Kew Gardens. I’d would be grateful if you could read my review. Many thanks.

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On Thursday the 20th February 2025, I visited Kew Gardens in London to see the Orchid Festival. I have a keen interest in floristry and gardening and I felt like this festival would give me inspiration and ideas to develop in this field.

As I entered Kew Gardens it was noticeable that the grounds were huge as there were several glass houses, an orangery, Kew Palace, various themed gardens, sculptures, walkways, a woodland and a gallery.

On the south side of the gardens was the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art which showcased sculptures and paintings from a range of artists, such as Felicity Aylieff. The design of her sculptures are made with porcelain clay and the pots can range up to 3 metres high. She works with a team of “master throwers” to create the pots so she can concentrate on the design of the pieces. It can take up to three people to throw a big pot. She decorates her pots in detail using pale-coloured enamels, then paints abstract cobalt blue using huge Chinese calligraphy brushes. I like the choice of colours she used and the abstract brush strokes she applied. But it wouldn’t be my choice to have it as a decorative piece in my home because the pieces are too big and not a style I like personally. I did find it interesting how the glazes change colour after the firing process.

In the second room in the gallery, there were multiple watercolour and acrylic framed pieces on the wall. All of the paintings were different types of plants; some were singular and others had several stems, flowers and buds. Botanical artists included Susannah Blaxill, Jean Emmons, Josephine Hague, Kathy Pickles, Sue Wickison and Paul Jones. These artists created a realistic look of a flower specimen. I loved how detailed and delicate they were. I was inspired by the different backgrounds, which I want to explore in my challenge, especially the black background or painting on fabric. I appreciate the time they put into the artwork as it’s so detailed. I found some of the artwork slightly desaturated where I like more intense colours.

In The Princess of Wales Conservatory there was the Orchid Festival which was themed Peru. There was an array of different orchids such as Coelogyne cristata and Sanchezia Stenomacra. When I first walked in I was surprised at how many varieties of orchids there were and how striking the colours were which lifted my mood and gave a sense of calmness.

The exhibition took us on a journey around Peru where there were sculptures of native animals. These were made of natural materials such as leaves and raffia, which were amongst the orchids. Orchids were hanging from the glass house ceiling attached by a thin wire and compacted into moss balls. The hanging orchids really inspired me because I found it was a creative way of designing an arrangement, which I could use in my own floristry work. The hanging orchids were displayed at varying heights to add balance.

There were little pots of a mix of orchid arrangements which were planted around the floor of the glasshouse. This gave a striking look against the green foliage behind them. One of the main displays was what looked like a wide trumpet horn or pot on its side, which displayed a flowing arrangement of orchids of striking magentas with neutral pinks and creams. This gave a sense of movement as it felt flowy like water.

Whilst I was there I experienced the orangery, the grounds of Kew Gardens, Bamboo and Minka House, lakes and a crossing, the treetop walkway, a glass house based on Australia, the Temperate House, Palm Glass House and Davies Alpine House. The treetop walking was good as I could see the top of the glass house and the grounds. It had an abundance of wildlife such as geese, birds and insects which was interesting to see.

I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone that enjoys being outside and appreciates flowers and gardening. It was a calming experience with an array of things to do and observe, like the galleries, several glass houses, a woodland area, lakes and a treetop walkway. The orchid experience is a temporary exhibition, which finished 2nd March, however they do put it on every year.

I would appreciate if you could write a comment so I can evidence this in my arts award portfolio. Thank you!