Clare McGhee
Botanical and Fine Art
Clare McGhee BA, Ed.Dip. BI, GM
Scottish Artist and Designer, Clare McGhee worked for many years as Senior Designer for a contemporary furniture design company in Edinburgh before concentrating fully on her art, studying Botanical Illustration at the RBGE. Her award-winning work is hugely influenced by her love of contemporary and historical design.
Drawing and painting has always been a passion. With a love and affinity for the Natural and Classical Art world she brings to life organic forms whilst combining them with historical references in a powerful and original way. Working in extraordinary detail and realism, her pieces capture the fascinating beauty of nature alongside the beauty of sculptural forms.
Always willing to try new methods, her highly realistic work uses a combination of traditional painting methods and contemporary graphic design techniques. Working primarily on Aluminium panels, an innovative surface that adds to the overall contemporary quality of the paintings and drawings.
Her work is owned by the RHS with several pieces held in the RHS Lindley Library Collection and the Hunt Institute in Pittsburgh USA as well as in private collections internationally.
2024
Collaboration with Japanese Fashion House, Edwin Europe on a Thistle Shirt design
17th International ARC Salon Competition
2022
16th International ARC Salon Competition
2021
Blue Review Art Prize - awarded 'Honorable Mention' for 'Iris Diptych', Sugarlift Gallery, New York
141st Annual Exhibition Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, RSA - The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Royal Miniature Society's 125th Anniversary Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2019 / 2020
16th International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation Pittsburgh, USA
'RHS Botanical Illustration - The Gold Medal Winners' 2019 by Charlotte Brooks, RHS
ISBN 978-1-788840-14-9
2018
‘Scottish Plant Lore: an illustrated flora’ by Dr Greg Kenicer, RBGE front and back cover illustrations ISBN 978-1-910877-26-5
'Worth a Thousand Words' Exhibition, 5th July - 17th Aug RHS LIndley Library, London
2017
'Art in Bloom' Biggar Botanical Art Exhibition, Biggar & Upper Clydesdale Museum
7th Annual 'Botanicals' Art Exhibition, Light Space Time Online Art Gallery - 2 Special Merits for 'Pomegranate' & 'Spear Thistle’
2016
RSA William Littlejohn Award exhibition entry
Special Merit Award 'Spear Thistle', Light Space & Time Online Gallery 'Nature Art Exhibition'
The Derwent Art Prize entry - 'Blown Thistle'
Jackson's Art Prize Exhibition *Longlist placing for 'Pomegranate'
2015
Dancing Light Gallery, Whitmuir, Autumn Exhibition
2014
'Six of the Best' Exhibition - Alexander Meddowes Art Broker, Edinburgh www.alexandermeddowes.com
2012
'Botanical art: rendering a living masterpiece' RHS 'The Garden' magazine
'World of Plants' Society of Botanical Artists, London - made an Associate Member
2011
Masterclass Tutor & Botanical Art Society Tutor - RBGE Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
2010
RHS London Botanical Art Show - Gold Medal 8 Vegetables (see gallery)
2009
RBGE Diploma in Botanical Illustration - awarded 'Distinction'
1991
BA Degree Interior Design, Edinburgh Napier University