Margaret Mee (1909-1988)
While researching botanical illustrations and art, I came across the beautiful work of Margaret Mee. Margaret Mee was a English botanical artist and a conservationist. She travelled and lived in the Amazon Forest, Brazil in 1952 (aged 42). She created an impressive collection of paintings of the flora in the Amazon Forest, as well as discovering and recorded new plants. Two plants have been named after her, Heliconia chartacea var. meeana - which has vivid blue berries and Aechmea polyantha - a vase like Bromeliad discovered by Margaret Mee.
Her work has been influential in raising awareness on the importance of conservation in the Amazon. The detailed beauty in her botanical illustrations are regarded in high acclaim with both scientists and artists alike. Her work has also been a reference and source of influence for a number of Brazilian artists including the Demonte family, Marlena Baretto, Patricia Villela and Alvaro Nunes.
When she was a child, Margaret’s artistic talents were encouraged by her aunt Ellen Mary Churchman. Ellen was illustrator of children’s books.
Another aspect of Margaret Mee’s life that I find admirable is that from a young age she had a passion for social causes, and a fight against fascism.
Mee’s illustrations provide much inspiration to my work.
