Stella Ross-Craig
Encyclopedia
Stella Ross-Craig was an Anglo-Scottish illustrator
best known as a prolific illustrator of native flora.
in 1906; her parents were Scottish and her father was a chemist. Interested in botany from her youth, she studied at the Thanet Art School and attended drawing classes at the Chelsea Polytechnic. In 1929, she began work as a botanical illustrator and taxonomist at Kew Gardens
and was a contributor to Curtis's Botanical Magazine
and Icones Planarum. Her work drew the attention of Sir Edward Sailsbury
, the director of Kew, who brought her to a publisher.
plates. The series contained all the British flowering plant
s except for the grasses and sedge
s. She often drew from preserved dried specimens kept at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
, and she worked in black and white.
, when she was aged 95. The works were subsequently exhibited at the Kew Gardens Gallery the next year. Ross-Craig was a Fellow of the Linnean Society
from 1948 to 1974. She was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society
's Gold Veitch Memorial Medal
in 2002.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
best known as a prolific illustrator of native flora.
Early life and career
Ross-Craig was born in AldershotAldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
in 1906; her parents were Scottish and her father was a chemist. Interested in botany from her youth, she studied at the Thanet Art School and attended drawing classes at the Chelsea Polytechnic. In 1929, she began work as a botanical illustrator and taxonomist at Kew Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
and was a contributor to Curtis's Botanical Magazine
Curtis's Botanical Magazine
The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed, is an illustrated publication which began in 1787. The longest running botanical magazine, it is widely referred to by the subsequent name Curtis's Botanical Magazine....
and Icones Planarum. Her work drew the attention of Sir Edward Sailsbury
Edward James Salisbury
Sir Edward James Salisbury FRS was an English botanist and ecologist. He was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire and graduated in botany from University College London in 1905. In 1913, he obtained a D.Sc. with a thesis on fossil seeds and was appointed a senior lecturer at East London College...
, the director of Kew, who brought her to a publisher.
Drawings of British Plants
The first in Ross-Craig's series Drawings of British Plants was published in 1948. The series was issued as a set of inexpensive paperbacks retailing initially for 6 shillings, a departure from similar books for professionals and wealthy amateurs. The series eventually grew to 31 parts, taking until 1973 to complete and containing over 1300 lithographicLithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
plates. The series contained all the British flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s except for the grasses and sedge
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae are a family of monocotyledonous graminoid flowering plants known as sedges, which superficially resemble grasses or rushes. The family is large, with some 5,500 species described in about 109 genera. These species are widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group...
s. She often drew from preserved dried specimens kept at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, and she worked in black and white.
Later life
In 1999 Ross-Craig became only the sixth person to receive the Kew Award medal. In 2003, 55 of her originals were exhibited at the Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh,...
, when she was aged 95. The works were subsequently exhibited at the Kew Gardens Gallery the next year. Ross-Craig was a Fellow of the Linnean Society
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
from 1948 to 1974. She was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
's Gold Veitch Memorial Medal
The Veitch Memorial Medal
The Veitch Memorial Medal, is a prestigious international prize issued annually by the Royal Horticultural Society .-Goal:The prize is awarded to "persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement and improvement of the science and practice of horticulture"...
in 2002.