Carpe diem, but first coffee.

Lucy T Smith is an Australian botanical artist and illustrator, resident for the past twenty-four years in the UK. Since 1999, she has worked as a freelance botanical artist for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, producing botanical illustrations in both pen and ink, and watercolour. Her illustrations have been published in many scientific journals worldwide.

The Victoria water lilies are found in South America. Until very recently, the genus contained only two species, Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana; the first growing along the Amazon River and its tributaries, the latter further south along the Parana River. However a third - Victoria boliviana has now been named. They are cultivated in many botanical gardens around the world, and are famous for their impressive giant leaves. Perhaps lesser known by the botanical garden visitor are their flowers, which open only at night.

Brooklyn-based artist Nancy Blum is well known for her public art commissions.

Nancy tells:

"I use botanical motifs to create images that are universally associated with growth and continuity. My deeper intent is to conjure the ‘flower’ as an active, forceful agent, subverting a culturally conditioned point of view that often deems the ephemeral and the organic as less powerful and of limited value. My ‘wonderland’ presents a view of life that pulses with expansive fecundity; hopefully, it also propels comprehension of the connectedness of all beings within the limitless energy operating throughout this world."

The Great Pyramid of Giza

A stunning perspective showing just how enormous the Great Pyramid of Giza is with a woman sitting at the bottom.

The Concubine: True Passion

Springtime of Life (Youth) 

Cécile Duchêne Malissin

Montargis, Loiret, France

French artist, born in Paris (France), she currently lives and works in Montargis, near Paris.