Media information for Secrets of Trees
Secrets of Trees: History, ecology and botany revealed through drawing (Botanical Art Portfolios series) by Pamela Taylor
Secrets of Trees showcases Pamela Taylor’s exquisitely detailed and accurately observed pen-and-ink drawings of ancient and veteran trees from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire, accompanied by artistic and ecological observations telling stories of the trees themselves and the surrounding landscape, as well as spotlight sections and advice for artists.
Pamela Taylor is a fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists, a founder member of the Association of Botanical Artists and a fellow of the Linnaean Society. In 2022 she was awarded a silver gilt medal at the RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show at the Saatchi Gallery in London. She has work in the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh, USA.
Published by Two Rivers Press on 21st May 2025
Paperback 120 pp 978-1-901048-26-4 £17.99
Press release for Secrets of Trees [pdf]
Page spreads
Cover jpeg
Review copy PDF
High-res images
Pamela Taylor writes:
Living close to Burnham Beeches and Windsor Great Park, I have a wealth of ancient trees on my doorstep and therefore no shortage of inspiration and subjects to draw. As an artist, I find beauty in all stages of the life of a tree. A fully mature tree in which the canopy has had enough space to grow without competition from neighbouring trees is a beautiful and rare sight. Its perfection speaks for itself. Most trees reflect their struggle for life; the way the branches twist, the presence of gnarled dead wood and craggy bark, all contribute to make the tree the individual that it is today, and frequently a wonderful, interesting character to draw. The finished drawing will be a unique reminder of the tree at that moment in time, reflecting its history and often raising questions about how it came to be the tree it is in its present form.
Drawing any plant makes me look at the subject in incredible detail, so as I complete my study, I find I have come to know and understand the specimen in great depth – both botanically and artistically. While I’m drawing, I think about the plant I’m capturing on paper and this frequently stimulates me to inquire about the specimen. Sometimes close observation leads me to discover more about the botany and ecology of the species but at other times I find myself investigating its history. Just what I discover is different for each plant that I draw, and in the following chapters there will be much to interest artists, botanists, ecologists and historians, as well as those who just enjoy natural history and the beauty of the world around them.
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Contact Anne Nolan for more information, to request a review copy, or an interview with the author: anne@tworiverspress.com.
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