In 1989 when Elizabeth Davis was a guide in the Royal Botanic Gardens and a Volunteer for Friends of The Gardens, she organised an exhibition to showcase Australian artists.
The exhibition started humbly, with just one room downstairs in Lion Gate Lodge and four exhibitors – two botanical artists and two ceramicists. Elizabeth, a horticulturist and art gallery owner, had seen an opportunity for indulging her twin passions of art and horticulture and approached Lindi Chapman, the Executive Officer at that time, with her idea.
The beginning of Artisans
With her husband Geoff and their daughter Tor, Elizabeth ran the exhibition successfully for 10 years, nurturing emerging artists and working with established artists. Each exhibition was given a name, such as Garden Reflections and Four Seasons, and each year more artists were added to the exhibition. As it grew and evolved, the opportunity arose to have a separate exhibition of botanic art, and thus increase the activities Friends of the Gardens could offer members and the public. This was realised in 1999, when Margot Child started Botanica, showcasing excellence in botanic art.
In 2000 and 2001, Elizabeth and curator Tim Jackson, and a small committee breathed new life into the original exhibition, which was renamed Artisans in The Gardens. It showcased ceramics, sculpture, glass, jewellery, textiles and more.
Ongoing success
2002 - 2005: Jeni McDermott took over as Curator and, over the next four years cemented the reputation of the exhibition, often showing more than 20 artists.
2006 - 2007: Bev Kable
2008 - 2012: Peta Rattray
2013 - 2015: Julianne Mills
2016 - 2018: Lucette Moore
2019 - 2021: Sandy Crichton
The numbers attending the exhibition continue to grow and it is always well patronised by collectors looking for something new, gallery owners looking for their next artist, art lovers appreciating the works, and visitors to the Gardens who drop by for morning and afternoon tea.