Botanical Studies

Every peony has its own character. Every bloom deserves to be observed.

For centuries, peonies have been admired across different cultures for their beauty, symbolism and remarkable diversity. Today, thousands of cultivars exist, each with its own history, breeding heritage and distinctive character.

This collection approaches the peony as both an artistic subject and a botanical study. Every painting begins with careful observation, exploring the subtle differences in petal structure, colour, flower form and growth habit that make each cultivar unique. Whether depicting an ancient Chinese tree peony, a historic European herbaceous variety or a modern Itoh hybrid, the intention is not simply to illustrate the flower, but to understand it through the process of painting.

As the collection develops, it becomes a growing visual record of one of the world's most celebrated flowering plants, combining botanical curiosity with artistic craftsmanship.

Overview

Botanical Studies is an ongoing collection of paintings that celebrates the remarkable diversity of peonies through close observation. Rather than depicting flowers as decorative motifs, each painting focuses on a single cultivar, recording its unique characteristics with careful attention to colour, structure and form.

The collection includes historic Chinese and Japanese tree peonies, classic European herbaceous varieties and modern American intersectional hybrids. Together they reflect centuries of horticultural achievement while demonstrating the extraordinary range that exists within the genus Paeonia.

Each painting combines traditional Gongbi-inspired precision with direct botanical observation, seeking not only to record the appearance of each flower but also to express its individual character. The collection continues to grow, with the long-term ambition of documenting as many remarkable peony cultivars as possible.

Explore the Collection

Paeonia 'Sonoma Velvet Ruby'

Paeonia 'Sonoma Velvet Ruby'

Paeonia 'Sonoma Velvet Ruby'
Paeonia 'Garden Treasure'

Paeonia 'Garden Treasure'

Paeonia 'Garden Treasure'
Paeonia 'Do Tell'

Paeonia 'Do Tell'

Paeonia 'Do Tell'
Paeonia 'Early Windflower'

Paeonia 'Early Windflower'

Paeonia 'Early Windflower'
Paeonia 'Hillary'

Paeonia 'Hillary'

Paeonia 'Hillary'
Paeonia 'Lovely Rose'

Paeonia 'Lovely Rose'

Paeonia 'Lovely Rose'
Paeonia suffruticosa Luoyang Tree Peony

Paeonia suffruticosa Luoyang Tree Peony

Paeonia suffruticosa Luoyang Tree Peony
Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima'

Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima'

Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima'
Paeonia 'Green Lotus'

Paeonia 'Green Lotus'

Paeonia 'Green Lotus'
Paeonia 'Blushing Princess'

Paeonia 'Blushing Princess'

Paeonia 'Blushing Princess'
Paeonia 'Goldilocks'

Paeonia 'Goldilocks'

Paeonia 'Goldilocks'
Paeonia 'Singing in the Rain'

Paeonia 'Singing in the Rain'

Paeonia 'Singing in the Rain'
Paeonia 'Christmas Velvet'

Paeonia 'Christmas Velvet'

Paeonia 'Christmas Velvet'
Paeonia 'Kamada Nishiki'

Paeonia 'Kamada Nishiki'

Paeonia 'Kamada Nishiki'
Paeonia 'Soft Salmon Saucer'

Paeonia 'Soft Salmon Saucer'

Paeonia 'Soft Salmon Saucer'
Paeonia 'Rou Fu Rong'

Paeonia 'Rou Fu Rong'

Paeonia 'Rou Fu Rong'
Paeonia 'High Noon'

Paeonia 'High Noon'

Paeonia 'High Noon'
Paeonia 'Madame Louis Henry'

Paeonia 'Madame Louis Henry'

Paeonia 'Madame Louis Henry'
Paeonia 'Court Jester'

Paeonia 'Court Jester'

Paeonia 'Court Jester'

The world's peonies are extraordinarily diverse. Some are centuries-old Chinese tree peonies, others are modern hybrids created through generations of careful breeding. Each cultivar carries its own history, structure, colour and personality.

These paintings began with a simple act of looking. By slowing down and observing each bloom with care, familiar flowers reveal an unexpected richness of detail, reminding us that nature rewards patience as much as admiration.