Artist focus: Carolyn Jenkins

Botanical artist painting in London, UK

Welcome to Behind the Brush… I’m so happy you’re here. Artist Focus is my mid-month feature where I invite botanical artists from all over the world to share their favourite seven studio picks for plant art and beyond.

Meet the very fabulous Carolyn Jenkins. She studied art and graphic design at St. Martin’s School of Art in London and Bath Academy of Art. For several years she has worked as an illustrator for publishing, advertising and graphic design companies contributing to several publications. She is also a professional gardener. Painting plants and flowers in watercolour brings together her love of art and gardening. In 2011, she studied for a diploma in Botanical Painting at the English Gardening School for which she was awarded ‘Distinction’ and ‘Best Student’.  

She has won two RHS medals for her botanical paintings at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Botanical Art Show; a Gold and ‘Best Exhibit’ in 2011 and a Silver in 2016.

The RHS Lindley Library have purchased two of her paintings for its collection; Helleborus x hybridus and Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’. In America, the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation also holds one of her paintings in it’s collection.

Her most recent work includes her book, New Ideas in Botanical Painting Published by Batsford Books, several private commissions, illustrations for Darphin Paris, Crabtree & Evelyn, Diageo, The Sunday Times Magazine, Hobbs and illustrating the book: ‘H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, Highgrove, A Garden Celebrated.’

It’s no secret that I’m a mega Carolyn groupie. I love her work! Here are her replies to my usual seven questions:

Paintbrush: I mostly use  Winsor & Newton Series 7, miniature sable Size 2.  These brushes are the best I’ve found for painting detail although they’ve become very expensive, they’ve more than doubled in price in the last 2 years.  I use larger versions of the same brushes for initial washes.  

Paint: I really like the Daniel Smith Quinacridone watercolours.  They have amazing intensity while still retaining transparency.  

Watercolour paper:  I use Fabriano Artistico 300g/m, Hot pressed for all my commercial illustration work as it scans better with no shadows caused by paper textures.  I do also use a more textured version (cold pressed) for non commercial work.  Although it’s a bit harder to work on the details I find it gives a little more character to the painting.

Favourite botanical artist:  Fiona Strickland.  Her work is extraordinary, so detailed while retaining huge amounts of character.

Favourite plant to paint:  Probably Hydrangeas and Roses.  Hydrangeas for the variety of colour as they fade and roses for the soft velvety textures of the petals.

Favourite studio drink:  Flat white coffee.  

Favourite music/ podcast:  I listen to audio books, a good book will keep me at my work table for hours without getting distracted.  Best audio book recently Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, 36 hours long!

Emma x