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BIOGRAPHY

ANNIE FARRER

I have had a mission, since the age of 15, to reveal the detail in the overlooked in nature. After specialising in Albrecht Durer at Manchester University, I worked as a freelance botanical artist for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, amongst others for over forty years, frequently on the grass family.

Working also as a trek leader for Exodus Expeditions in the Himalaya and living for several years in France, enabled me to step outside the confines of botanical illustration and led to an exploration of the design created by Chinese traditional painters. This led in turn to taking a Foundation followed by an MA (Fine Art) in which I was able to read widely on art, to rethink my work and to explore new techniques.

Since November 2019 I have been painting from memory in acrylic and oil.
This is a big departure from the minute observation that has inspired my work for many years.
The memories, built up since childhood, are of the Ingleborough area of the Yorkshire Dales.

MY WORK

 

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North Yorkshire Open Studios
3/4 and 10/11 June 2023

New work by Annie Farrer

 

 

It will be held at the:
The Old Sawmill, Clapham
LA2 8DS

 

Additional information on the venue
can be
found here.

Over a three year period Annie worked on a 13.5 feet long concertina type book in pen and ink, entitled "Trow Ghyll, a Place of Stillness".

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Also another concertina type book in collaboration with John Cordingley. (Cave diver and author based in the Yorkshire Dales. For more information see the book he co-authored with David Haigh "AdventuresUnderground") "The Earth Beneath my Feet" includes Annie's illustrations and writing with text by John and images by a number of notable cave photographers all based on the slopes of Ingleborough mountain in the Yorkshire Dales.

 

In 2020 this book received a commendation from the ‘Tratman award for caving related literature.’

For further information on either of these books, or if you would like to purchase them
please send an email.

AWARDS AND BIOGRAPHY

Awards;

  • 1988 Jill Smythies award for Botanical Illustration from the Linnean Society.
  • 6 Gold Medals from Royal Horticultural Society.
  • 1977 Churchill Travelling Fellowship to travel overland to the Himalayas to draw for "Flowers of the Himalaya" Polunin and Stainton OUP.

 

Selected exhibitions;

  • 6 Gold medals at Royal Horticultural Society. (group shows)
  • Shirley Sherwood travelling exhibitions Italy, Japan, Sweden, UK. (Group shows)
  • Shirley Sherwood Gallery, RBG Kew.
  • St Pauls Cathedral, London. Tryon Gallery, London. (Group shows)

 

  • 2019 Open Studios, Clapham, North Yorkshire. (Joint show)
  • 2018 Centrspace, Bristol. (Group show)
  • 2017 Open Studios, Newby, North Yorkshire. (Joint show)
  • 2017 Penwith Studio, St Ives. (Group show)
  • 2015 MA Final show. (Group show)
  • 2015 Muse Gallery, Portabello Road, London. (Group show)
  • 2014 Foundation Final show. (Group show)
  • 2012 Gavagan Art, Settle, North Yorkshire. (Joint show)
  • 2011 Jonathan Cooper, Park Walk, London. (Solo show)
  • 2008 The Folly, Settle, North Yorkshire. (Solo show)
  • 2002 Hortus, Chelsea Green, London. (Solo show)
  • 1994 Kew Gallery, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (Joint show)
  • 1987 Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai, Hawaii. (Solo show)

CONTACT

 

 

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