This article by Margaret Best first appeared in the June 2016 issue of The Botanical Artist, the journal of the American Society of Botanical Artists.
When I offered to write an article about South African botanical artist Gillian Condy, I had no idea how big a task I had set myself. Soon after I sat down to pull it all together I realized that I could only scratch the surface of this story of a life long dedication to botanical art. Her life story is worthy of a book.
Erythrina latissima by Gillian Condy |
Gillian is accustomed to having to take on subjects of intense complexity day in and day out for the herbarium botanists, so absolutely nothing in the plant kingdom could daunt her now. After seeing her watercolor rendering of a baobab flower painted in-situ in Madagascar, I understood why an inflorescence of tiny native Italian orchids packed tightly together on a single vertical stem was just a walk in the park!
Gillian’s extensive list of achievements in botanical art ranks with the best, past and present. The thesis for her Master’s degree from The Royal College of Art in London was on the toxic plants of Britain. Her other achievements include: RHS gold medals, the Jill Smythies Award from the Linnean Society; five paintings in the Shirley Sherwood collection; works in the HRH Highgrove Florilegium; works in the Transylvania project; and paintings in the Hunt Institute collection. She was also commissioned to paint Mandela’s Gold, a Strelitzia hybrid developed at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden—which she personally presented to Nelson Mandela.
Ochna sp by Gillian Condy |
The paintings illustrating this article tell of an exceptional artist but what I hoped to offer is some insight into not just Gillian the botanical artist, but also Gillian the person. Her thirst for knowledge and her rare generosity of spirit in imparting it to others, is as amazing as some of the plants she paints.
Warata by Gillian Condy |
I have just enough space left to add that Gillian was a founding member of BAASA, spends endless volunteer hours helping organize exhibitions and workshops, and curates the botanical art collection at SANBI. She also takes a personal interest in the progression of those who have studied with her over the years. It comes from the heart—she does it for the South African botanical art community and (as I discovered) anybody who shares her love of this art form.
A wicked sense of humor and a passion for the game of cricket second only to her passion for plants, rounds out this remarkable botanical artist.