cambridge contemporary art

Gael Sellwood

Gael.jpg

Gael Sellwood has worked as a botanical and natural history artist for nearly thirty years.  In 2020 she moved from Hertfordshire to Somerset, and she continues to use material from her extensive garden, as well as the surrounding wild landscape, which provide much of her inspiration.  This latest body of work has all been created in her new studio.  With formal qualifications both in botanical illustration and business for artists and makers, painting is now her main occupation.

Gael’s work continues to detail found objects, affected, renounced and used by nature, or those found in vintage collections of her own, or from within her family. Usually working in watercolour on paper or vellum, her paintings take the viewer to the hedgerow, wayside or garden, recreating a season, a feeling, a scent or an experience for posterity.  Her favourite subjects are often dried, curled and care worn, rather than pristine and perfect.  She focuses on creating texture and form in her work.  A keen maker and an inveterate collector, some of her collection features in her latest work.

A Gold Medal winner with both the RHS and the Caledonian RHS and a member of the Society of Botanical Artists, Gael has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both at home and abroad. In 2014 she was awarded both a Gold Medal by the RHS and the coveted ‘best in show’ award for best botanical exhibit; this was for a series of hydrangeas in autumn and winter.  She has work in the Hunt Institute, Pittsburgh, USA, in the RHS collection at the Lindley Library, and in the collection of Dr Shirley Sherwood, as well as numerous private collections at home and abroad. 

Gael has been featured on several BBC programmes including Countryfile, painting on vellum.  Her story and her work have also been featured in Country Living magazine, Country Homes and Interiors and Good Housekeeping magazine. 

Her first book THE MEASURE OF THE YEAR was published in 2018 to coincide with her first solo show at the gallery.  She has been a fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists for over 15 years and was until 2021 Co-President.

Don’t hesitate to email us on info@cambridgegallery.co.uk or call us on 01223 324222 if you have any questions about specific pieces.



Sold

Hydrangea Macrophylla ‘Mme Emile Mouillere’watercolour on paper53 x 68 cm framedsold

Hydrangea Macrophylla ‘Mme Emile Mouillere’

watercolour on paper

53 x 68 cm framed

sold

Iris Recognition V Red Orchid

watercolour on natural calfskin vellum

frame 45cm x 45cm

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Iris Recogniton I Quecheewatercolour on vellum45 x 45 cm framedsold

Iris Recogniton I Quechee

watercolour on vellum

45 x 45 cm framed

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Corylus Avellana

watercolour on hot pressed paper

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Quercus Robur

watercolour on hot pressed paper

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Digitalis Purpurea et Bombus Hortorum

watercolour on vellum

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Spring Posy I

watercolour on paper

23 x 35 cm image

36 x 59 cm framed

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Holly and Ribbon

watercolour on vellum

35 x 38 cm framed

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The Last Medlarswatercolour on vellum36 x 40 cm framedsold

The Last Medlars

watercolour on vellum

36 x 40 cm framed

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Rosa Munstead Wood

watercolour on paper

24 x 24 cm image

47 x 47 cm framed

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Rose in Summer and Autumn

watercolour on paper

29 x 31 cm image

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Rosa Mutabiliswatercolour on vellum50 x 41 cm framedsold

Rosa Mutabilis

watercolour on vellum

50 x 41 cm framed

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My Heart's beside the Sea

watercolour on paper

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WP Milner (Narcissus)

watercolour on calfskin

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Willow Pattern Cup and Quinces

watercolour on paper

38 x 22 cm image

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Hydrangea Macrophylla 'Enziandom'

watercolour on paper

53 x 68 cm framed

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Iris Recogniton III Cimarron Stripwatercolour on vellum21 x 21 cm imagesold

Iris Recogniton III Cimarron Strip

watercolour on vellum

21 x 21 cm image

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Iris Recogniton IV Benton Caramelwatercolour on vellum45 x 45 cm framedsold

Iris Recogniton IV Benton Caramel

watercolour on vellum

45 x 45 cm framed

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Malus Domestica ‘Apple’

watercolour on hot pressed paper

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Populus Nigra

watercolour on hot pressed paper

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Rose, Thrush Egg and Feather

watercolour on vellum

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Spring Posy II

watercolour on paper

23 x 35 cm image

36 x 59 cm framed

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Christmas Rose, Mistletoe and Holly

watercolour on kelmscott vellum

14.5 x 15.5 cm

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‘Out soon’watercolour on natural calfskinImage size:12.5x16.5cmsold

‘Out soon’

watercolour on natural calfskin

Image size:12.5x16.5cm

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The Deep Red Guinee

watercolour on paper

38 x 34 cm image

61 x 57 cm framed

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Rosa Reconciliation from Behind

watercolour on paper

21 x 18 cm image

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Muscari Macrocarpumwatercolour on vellum24 x 19 cm imagesold

Muscari Macrocarpum

watercolour on vellum

24 x 19 cm image

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Fritillaria Meleagris

Watercolour on natural calfskin vellum

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Tulipa Trio II ‘Estella Rijnveld’

watercolour on paper

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Seaweed and Seahorse

watercolour on paper

30 x 20 cm image

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Hydrangea Macrophylla ‘Renate Steiniger’watercolour on paper53 x 68 cm framedsold

Hydrangea Macrophylla ‘Renate Steiniger’

watercolour on paper

53 x 68 cm framed

sold

Iris Recognition VI Superstition

Watercolour on vellum

45 x 45cm framed

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Superstitionwatercolour on paper.sold

Superstition

watercolour on paper

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Prunus ‘Cherry’

watercolour on hot pressed paper

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Crataegus ‘Hawthorn’

watercolour on hot pressed paper

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Mistletoe Honesty and Snowdrop

watercolour on paper

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Rosa Glauca Hipswatercolour on vellum17 x 21 cm image40 x 44 cm framedsold

Rosa Glauca Hips

watercolour on vellum

17 x 21 cm image

40 x 44 cm framed

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Pashley Manor and the Mistletoe

watercolour on paper

18 x 21 cm image

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Norfolk hipswatercolour on natural calfskinImage size: 12.5x16.5cmsold

Norfolk hips

watercolour on natural calfskin

Image size: 12.5x16.5cm

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Rosa Guinee

watercolour on paper

31 x 31 cm image

54 x 54 cm framed

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Rosa Grace

watercolour on paper

21 x 21 cm image

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‘Pashley Manor’ and the Feather

watercolour on calfskin

21.5 x 12.5 cm

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Spring findswatercolour on natural calfskinsold

Spring finds

watercolour on natural calfskin

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Bramley's Seedling Apple

watercolour on paper

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Daffodil and Bud

watercolour on kelmscott vellum

12 x17 cm

£360 (framed)

Natural Truth - Judith’s Lace cap

watercolour on paper

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sold

Iris Recogniton II Langport Wrenwatercolour on vellum21 x 21 cm imagesold

Iris Recogniton II Langport Wren

watercolour on vellum

21 x 21 cm image

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Hydrangea from Preston Hall

graphite on paper

51 x 48 cm framed

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Gingko Biloba ‘Ginko’

watercolour on hot pressed paper

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Norfolk Lane

etching

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Needle and Hook

watercolour on paper

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Foxglove 'Excelsior' Sherbet Lemon

watercolour on paper

18 x 22 cm image

41 x 45 cm framed

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The Holly and the Ivy

watercolour on kelmscott vellum

30 x 33.5 cm

sold

Daffodil trio,watercolour on natural calfskinimage size: 16x20cmsold

Daffodil trio,

watercolour on natural calfskin

image size: 16x20cm

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Rosa Farruca

watercolour on paper

31 x 31 cm image

54 x 54 cm framed

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The Rose and the Woodpecker

watercolour on calfskin

21.5 x 12.5 cm

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Sign of the Times September

watercolour on kelmscott vellum

16.5 x 12 cm

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Lantern Bug

watercolour on kelmscott vellum

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Hellebores, Pheasant Feather and Snail

watercolour on vellum

48 x 38 cm framed

sold