Friday, 2 September 2016

Choisya

Choisya (2016), pencil and gouache on watercolour paper

I have just completed this pencil and gouache drawing of a Choisya plant that I discovered while walking near my studio in Sussex. Choisya, also known as Mexican Orange Blossom is a popular shrub grown for its evergreen foliage, scented blooms and tolerance of difficult growing conditions. This particular variety of the shrub is called Choisya ternata 'Sundance' and bears glossy, evergreen, bright yellow leaves, which is what attracted me to drawing it. Fragrant white flowers are borne above the leaves in late spring, and again in late summer and autumn. 

The drawing will be on display at the Mall Galleries on 14th and 15th September as part of the exhibition In England We Dream of Gardens. The exhibition is curated by Alice Shirley.


Detail of Choisya (2016)pencil and gouache on watercolour paper