For me, botanical art is all about the effect of sunlight on plants.  A particular quality catches my interest, be it the intriguing light playing over the leaves, the negative shapes drawing me in, the decorative shapes of shadows or the translucency of leaves against the sky. I endeavour to elevate plants by capturing these moments of radiance in my paintings. My subjects are varied and ranging, from shiny laurel leaves, to decomposing hydrangea petals and to common weeds. My daily country walks give me time and space to notice and relish the subtle beauty of plants, whose aesthetic qualities are often disregarded by the passer-by.

My scientific background, observant eye and attention to detail comes in useful in my portraiture.  I aim to create beautiful, optimistic and sensitive portraits whilst retaining accuracy.

Jackie Gwyther is an oil painter based in Sevenoaks, Kent. Her portraiture and botanical art are recognisable by her realistic style, delicacy of touch and balanced close-up compositions. 

Following a career in science, with a PhD in molecular immunology, she decided to convert her lifelong love of art from a pleasurable hobby to a focused art profession. An access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design) in 2011 from UCA Maidstone led her to a Foundation Degree Arts with Distinction from K College, Tonbridge in 2013. Since then, she has continued to develop and refine her observational and technical oil painting skills through courses at Heatherley’s, the Art Academy and by attending weekly portrait painting classes.  She is a member and exhibitor with the Kent Painters Group, The Sevenoaks Visual Arts Forum, the Stone Street Art group, Art in June and Southeast Open Studios. This year she exhibited her botanical paintings in the Society of Botanical Artists Plantae exhibition 2022, the Royal Society of British Artists exhibition 2022, was Long listed for the Jacksons Painting Prize 2022 and was Short listed for the Visual Art Open Prize 2022.  She was invited to become a fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists in 2022.