Most people know Kew Gardens as a wonderful botanical in West London, famous for its yearly Orchid Festival, the spectacular light trail at Christmas, and the iconic Palm House. Yet set within its 326 acres lie other hidden treasures, including the Marianne North Gallery, and the Shirley Sherwood Gallery.

Arabella Morgan, one of the many volunteers at Kew, has decades of experience in the Gardens, and is regarded as one of the foremost experts of the wonderful Marianne North and Shirley Sherwood Galleries. We will be fortunate to have Arabella as our guide for both galleries.

The Marianne North Gallery

Located within the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, is a unique art space dedicated to the works of the 19th-century botanical artist Marianne North. This gallery showcases over 800 paintings that highlight her adventurous travels and her innovative approach to botanical art. Marianne North (1830-1890) was a pioneering figure in botanical illustration. She travelled extensively, documenting flora and landscapes in their natural settings. Her paintings not only captured the beauty of plants but also included their environments, showcasing the ecosystems they inhabited.

The Shirley Sherwood Gallery

Dr. Shirley Angela Sherwood OBE (née Cross, born July 1, 1933) is a prominent British botanist, writer and philanthropist who has made significant contributions to the field of botanical art. She holds a bachelor’s degree in botany and a D.Phil. from St Anne’s College, Oxford, where her research contributed to the development of the drug Tagamet.  She is renowned for her extensive collection of contemporary botanical art, which she began in 1990. Over the past 35 years, she has amassed over 1,000 works by more than 300 artists from 36 countries, making it the largest and most important private collection of its kind in the world.  It is now over 10 years since Sir David Attenborough opened the Shirley Sherwood Gallery at Kew. During that time, the gallery has held over 50 exhibitions, welcomed more than a million visitors, and become the hub of the worldwide renaissance of botanical art.

Our host for the morning will be Brian Dimitroff. A long-time friend of Kew, and former finance professional with four decades of experience working in the City. Brian is now a core part of the Development Team, working as a Major Gift Development Manager.

Overview of the Day’s Schedule

We will host two separate group tours: the first commencing at 11:15am and the second commencing at 12:15pm. Each tour will cover both galleries.

All Circle Square attendees will have complimentary access to Kew Gardens for the day, to enjoy at your leisure.

Tea and coffee will be served at the end of the tours at 1:15pm.

Places are limited so please RSVP early to secure your place.