My art style requires me to quite literally stop and smell the flowers. I enjoy the challenge of capturing the tiny, often overlooked, details-flaws, imperfections and all.
- Lauren.
About Lauren May SK
Lauren is a natural history artist specializing in botanical illustration, based in the Lake Macquarie region of NSW, Australia. She draws inspiration from the natural world around her and seeks to recreate that beauty as faithfully as possible using pencils, paper, and watercolours.
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She holds a Bachelor of Natural History Illustration with First Class Honours (2012) from the University of Newcastle. Her botanical artworks are held in the collections of the Sydney Florilegium Botanical Art Society and the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh, USA. Lauren is a member of both the prestigious Sydney Florilegium and the Botanical Art Society of Australia, regularly contributing to exhibitions with both groups.
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Lauren also creates custom artwork for private and commercial clients. Her illustrations have been featured on greeting cards, used for brand imagery, and commissioned as meaningful gifts to commemorate special milestones and achievements—projects she finds especially rewarding.
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In addition to her studio work, Lauren has a strong interest in teaching others how to develop their watercolour skills. She occasionally teaches casual private lessons and workshops, and hopes to expand into online courses in the future.
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Lauren lives with her husband and three young children in their “treehouse,” nestled among gum trees, birds, and bushland wildlife. It’s an ideal home for a natural history artist, and she often shares her discoveries from her wild and (usually) unkempt garden on Instagram.
Collectors & Clients
The following is a list of some of the businesses, brands and institutions who have collected, commissioned or purchased pieces created by Lauren May SK.
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The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh USA.
The Florilegium Society, Sydney Australia.
The Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle Australia.
The University of Newcastle, Newcastle Australia.
Vevoke, stationery and lifestyle product supplier, Australia.
Mode Mischief Studios, fashion label, Melbourne Australia.
Amble & Twine, boutique floristry, Newcastle, Australia.
Maitland Library, Maitland, Australia.
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Lauren's work may also be found in many private collections around Australia and internationally.
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