Book Review: RHS Collage the Botanical World

Val Bradley

The back of this book promises that it is “A unique sourcebook for keen collagists.” and they’re not kidding. It contains over 1000 images, drawn from and inspired by the incredible RHS image archives.

The images included range from vintage botanical art to the scientific and from florals to vegetables via wildlife. These are all ready to cut out and make into a stunning collage that can be as botanically accurate as you wish or a complete fantasy. There are flowers of all kinds, fruits, vegetables, leaves, fungi, birds, animals, insects, garden tools and machinery, structures and people. The backgrounds range from vintage line drawings to gardens, buildings, a seascape and several wide landscapes.

There are tips from leading UK collagist Katy McNulty (aka @collage.garden) on making this a unique artwork. Whether you are an experienced artist or a total beginner, this is a great book to work from. Katy offers advice on equipment, scale, perspective and inspiration to fire up your imagination. All you need to do is grab scissors, paper and glue to begin assembling your own personal artwork. Then you can make it as simple or complicated as you want.

With a little research, should you so desire, you can make the floral images seasonal, so you can ring the changes throughout the year. Your wall art could reflect the season as it is or perhaps the season you wish it was.

As a gift, this is an attractive book, even if it is never used for its intended purpose - in fact, it feels almost too nice to cut up! The detail in the pictures is superb, the range included is vast and the price is realistic. As someone who has only briefly tried to create a collage (grapes, using wrapping paper) I find this book very tempting and I will certainly use it to have another go!

Published by: Frances Lincoln / Quarto ISBN: 978-0-7112-9331-1 Price: £16.99

This story was published on: 21/06/2024

Image attribution: Val Bradley

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