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Pandora Sellars (1936- ) Pandora Sellars has lived for many years in Herefordshire. She studied textile design at the Hereford School of Art and then at Cheltenham School of Art between 1951 and 1957, before moving on to Manchester College of Art. Sellars became a teacher and a freelance botanical artist, using watercolour as her preferred medium. She has participated in numerous British and overseas art exhibitions since 1972, and has also had her own exhibition at the Kew Gardens Gallery in 1990. In addition, she has created works as special commissions, such as for the Jersey Post Office in 1995 and the British Post Office in 1993. Her drawings have been reproduced in numerous botanical publications and books about botanical art. The Royal Horticultural Society has recognised the quality of her work in awarding her a Gold Medal.
Sellars' drawing of this exotic and attractive orchid, Paphiopedilum spicerianum, is set against a lush green tropical setting. The eye is drawn to the white blooms of the orchid. Sellars is particularly associated with her exceptional drawings of orchids.
ORCHIDACEAE Paphiopedilum spicerianum Paphiopedilum spicerianum is a species of orchid (Family ORCHIDACEAE) and was first scientifically described in 1880. The plant originally comes from India, growing on the sides of steep river gorges at an altitude of 1,000-2,000 metres.
The Pandora Sellars Drawings Collection This is the only drawing by Pandora Sellars in the Natural History Museum collection. Further examples of her artworks are also held at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, and in private collections.
Exhibition and publication details This drawing has not previously been displayed to the public.
References and further reading Boyce, P. (1993) The Genus Arum. Kew Magazine Monograph: London. 196pp. Cribb, P. (1987) The genus Paphiopedilum. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: London. 222pp. Desmond, R. (1987) A Celebration of Flowers: Two Hundred Years of Curtis's Botanical Magazine. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: London. 208pp. Le Sueur, F. (1984) Flora of Jersey. Societe Jersiaise: Jersey. 243pp. Sherwood, S. (1996) Contemporary Botanical Artists: The
Shirley Sherwood collection. Weidenfeld & Nicolson
in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: London.
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