Sarah Jane Humphrey - Botanical Illustrator
/
Botanical Illustrator and Business Owner, Sarah Jane Humphrey
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Navigating my way through some difficult times and emerging with my own business, a published book and 3 RHS medals for my Botanical Illustrations.
What motivates you to do what you do?
Passion; I love my work as a Botanical Illustrator and there is never a day goes by where I don't feel inspired to create. Whether that be for the love of drawing and painting or with a with a greater picture to make bigger changes, such as addressing subjects such as climate change or connecting with nature through my art.
What do you owe your mother?
My Mum taught me so much about the natural world from a very early age, encouraging my curiosity for looking closely and enjoying and observing. She also has a beautiful and quiet resilience and incredible strength, which I never really saw until I was older, it's inspiring.
Which women inspire you and why?
Marianne North, the way she was driven through her passion to discover new plants to paint. Her tenacity to travel alone to previously unknown destinations and achieving such a body of paintings and research from these trips that she became a pioneer of her time.
Sylvia Earle, driven by her love of the ocean and strong desire to observe and protect it. I think she has shown amazing strength and courage to pursue her dreams in what was formerly a man’s world, pushing boundaries, breaking records and being a formidable role model.
What are you reading?
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, and Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith
What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?
I studied Technical Illustration for 2 years before my degree, this was historically a men's career to go into at the time, just myself and one other woman finished the course, I was awarded a distinction for this qualification. I have also lost count of how many times I have been told by men in powerful positions that I can't do something or made to feel that my voice is meaningless, my knowledge has been my power. In many of these situations I have used my brain and grit to find a way around these hurdles to get what is fair and should be an equal right.
How can the world be made a better place for women?
I think there needs to be a lot more done to make women feel safe and heard. I also think we need to bring up our sons to respecting women and allowing them a balanced equality.
Describe your perfect day.
Dipping in and out of the sea, a sketchbook close to hand and long sunshiny days.
We’ve noticed there really aren’t many statues of Women around Cornwall – who would you like to see remembered?
I would love to see Dame Barbara Hepworth, who I have tenuous family artistic links to or Rowena Cade, Daphne Du Maurier there are so many!
Give us a tip?
Be yourself, don't let a lifetime pass you by before you discover who you really are.
About Sarah
Inspired by nature and fascinated by hyper-realism in art, Sarah has published books, won medals for her artwork and regularly takes on commissions from high-profile and local brands. Her bricks and mortar shop ‘Botanical Atelier’ is a gem of Falmouth high street, and she also hosts botanical illustration workshops to share her skills.