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Jess Shepherd is a botanical painter. When she paints plants she tries to become them. There is a great deal of observation involved even before her brushes touch the paper. Jess believes that a good picture is made using not only sight, but also touch, sound, smell and movement. One has to be aware of all of these elements in order to portray the plant well and describe the space that the plant is growing into, both over and underground. 

Jess initially trained in botany before committing herself fully to painting so that she would understand the processes of plants more comprehensively. Equipped with this scientific knowledge, Jess is now testing new approaches to her artwork to push the capacity for botanical illustration to bring greater awareness of plants and our interaction with them. Through her art, Jess hopes to inspire people to think beyond their experience whilst enriching our current perceptions of botanical illustration, its applications and how it sits within the larger scope of the visual arts. 

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