This book is a celebration of the Shirley Sherwood Collection of contemporary botanical art, made over a period of 30 years by Dr Shirley Sherwood and considered the most important private collection of its kind in the world. In 2018 the 1000th painting was added to the collection, a pocket handkerchief by Coral Guest.

Presents a collection of botanical paintings along with descriptions of the artists' techniques and backgrounds.

"Reveals the history of botanical painting, its beauty and science, with works from two renowned collections and over one hundred significant artists, dating from the late 1400s through to today. Paintings featured from the Kew collection include works by well-known artists the Bauer brothers, Redoute, Ehret, Fitch, Lilian Snelling and Margaret Mee as well as many lesser known artists. Contemporary works are featured from the Sherwood collection by a host of international artists. Over 200 stunning botanical paintings are showcased in this gift book, accompanied with informative text on the origins, history and relevance of botanical art, as well as information on the plants themselves. Biographies of over 120 artists are provided at the end of the book, revealing the historical and international background of this genre."--

This major exhibition brings together the greatest treasures of botanical art including over 80 botanical illustrations, both ancient and modern, spanning 1000 years.

Rosie Sanders, often described as the best painter of the world's most famous fruit, has devoted years to researching this book and submitting the apples to hour upon hour of meticulous observation. In 144 beautifully detailed watercolours she depicts the unrivalled range of form, colour and texture which characterize such varieties as Beauty of Bath, Peasgood Nonsuch, Cox's Orange Pippin and Egremont Russet. Painted with their blossom, twig and leaf, Rosie offers detailed descriptions of each apple's aroma, flavour and season as well as something of the history of each variety. The book is enhanced by a practical essay on apple growing by Harry Baker, fruit officer for many years at the Royal Horticultural Society and one of Britain’s foremost authorities on apple growing.

Book published on the occasion of exhibition at Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 2009.