Holly Somerville is an Irish botanical artist, illustrator and teacher. She has worked for Trinity College, Dublin, and produced the botanical illustrations for the seventh edition of David Webb's An Irish Flora.
Career
Born Holly Nixon in
Dublin and went to St Columba's College, Dublin.
Somerville was educated at
Oxford where she completed a master's degree in Plant Sciences at
Somerville College. She then completed her education in
Edinburgh College of Art with a BA in illustration and photography. Post college in 1994 she was employed by the Botany Department in
Trinity College, Dublin to assist with specimen illustration.
Exhibitions
2017, 2016 Water Colour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition
2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 Botanical Art in Bloom
2017 Eireannach, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin
2016, 2015, 2013, 2011 Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition
2016 Art in the Garden Exhibition, Tourin House, County Waterford
2016 New Little Habitats, Ballydorn, County Down, Northern Ireland
2015, 2013 Galway Garden Festival Botanical Art Exhibition, Claregalway Castle
2014 Aibitir: the Irish Alphabet in Botanical Art, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin
2010 Grangecon Cafe, Blessington, County Wicklow (solo)
2001 The Garden House, Enniskerry, County Wicklow (solo)
1999 The Kennedy Gallery, Dublin (solo)
1999 Exhibition of National Trust Paintings, Ulster Museum, Belfast
1998 Ulster Cancer Foundation Annual Exhibition, Belfast
1998 Gloucestershire Society for Botanical Illustration Annual Exhibition, Corinium Museum, Cirencester, UK
1996 Royal Ulster Academy Summer Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast
1996 Artists’ Day on Botanical Illustration, Botany Department, Oxford University, UK
1995 The Bay Tree Gallery, Holywood, County Down (solo)
1994 Malone House, Summer Exhibition, Belfast
Her work is on display in The National Trust, and Trinity College, Dublin. She is a Fellow of the Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ballycastle, County Mayo.[1]
Awards
2015 Somerville won three medals for her work in Bloom.[2]
Personal life
Holly was married in 1999 to James Somerville with whom she has three daughters.