In June, Toni was awarded her 2nd Gold Medal for her exhibit at this year’s international RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show held at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery, in London. She earned her first Gold in the 2021 exhibition at the Saatchi for her 6 part series entitled Seasonal Observations of the Pomegranate.

Toni says 'After many preparatory drawings, colour studies and botanical advice, this large 6-part watercolour exhibit titled Magnolia Grandiflora from Bud to Desiccated Seedpod took me a year to paint. I painted them larger than life in order to achieve maximum visual impact and to allow me to explore the different textures, colour, tonal subtleties and tiny, detailed sculptural forms of the pod. I wanted to showcase these intriguing pods as they go through their magical transformation from bud to magnificent, sweet smelling flower to dried husk. When I received my 2nd gold medal from a quality international juried exhibition, it was such an honour.


A wonderful affirmation that all the hard work, dedication & love that has gone into producing the exhibit had been worth it.' The following accolade is a quote from Katherine Tyrell a writer, artist & reviewer of botanical art & artists. 'The last two in the series are just absolutely awesome! My guess is the one on the right may well have been in the running for Best Painting.' The last 2 seedpods in this series won the 'St Cuthberts Mill Award' last year at the Society of Botanical Artists.

In 2019 she was elected as a Fellow member of the Society of Botanical Artists & has exhibited with them annually since 2017 in both Westminster Central Hall & Mall galleries.

She has also exhibited several times with the Society of Women Artists & in 2020 won 'The Great Art Award‘ for her painting Dishevelled. This painting is now held in the permanent collection of The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation which promotes the history of botany through its collections, research, exhibitions, publications, and services. The painting will be on show at their 17th Hunt International Series Exhibition in Fall 2024 in Pittsburgh, USA.

The RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show 2024 exhibits exquisite botanical art and photography from around the world and explores a rich variety of subjects and themes. The world-class artists and photographers are judged & awarded RHS Gold, Silver-gilt, Silver, and Bronze medals. The show is open from 14 June to 7 July at the Saatchi Gallery.

Toni teaches monthly botanical art workshops at Papelaria Arco-Iris in Alcantarilha & weekly art classes in watercolour techniques at Escola de Artes de Lagoa.

She is available for commissions & can be contacted through her website:

www.toni-maria-design.com or Instagram @tonimariald


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