About the artist
Born in 1879 and passing away in 1972, Lilian Snelling was highly likely the most influential British botanical illustrator of her era, particularly during the first half of the 20th century. Between 1921 and 1952, she held the key position of chief artist and lithographer for Curtis's Botanical Magazine. Her breathtaking and incredibly detailed artwork earned her recognition as one of the leading botanical artists of her generation. Her immense talent was acknowledged when she was bestowed an MBE in 1954, followed by the Victoria Medal the next year.
Snelling spent the period between 1916 and 1921 at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, learning lithography from Frank Morley Fletcher. In 1921, she moved on to serve as the main artist and lithographer at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for Curtis's Botanical Magazine. By the time she retired in 1952, she had created an impressive portfolio of more than 830 paintings and lithographs.
