Gillian Condy
Encyclopedia
Gillian Condy, born 5 December 1952 Nairobi
, is a South African botanical artist. She has illustrated over 200 plates for Flowering Plants of Africa, contributed to various other South African National Botanical Institute publications and 8 plates for Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. She has illustrated two books by Charles Craib, Geophytic Pelargoniums (2001) and Grass Aloes in the South African Veld (2005). She also contributed to the biographic section in the book South African Botanical Art:Peeling back the Petals (2001).
She was born in Kenya
, the youngest of three daughters of Thomas Roy Condy and Phyllis Mary Poulton, and spent her childhood in Uganda
where her love for Africa and its plants developed. She received her training at Middlesex Polytechnic in London as a natural history illustrator and obtained a Master of Arts
degree from the Royal College of Art
for a project entitled "British Poisonous Plants".
She returned to Africa by way of Phuthadikobo Museum at Mochudi
in Botswana
with the International Voluntary Service and spent two years roughing it before moving to Lobatse. In 1983 she became resident botanical artist with the National Botanical Institute in Pretoria. She has retained her ties with Botswana through the design of 13 sets of postage stamps for that country since 1982.
and in 1990 was presented with the Jill Smythies Award from the Linnean Society of London. In 1992 she received the Beeld Stamp Design of the Year award for Edible Wild Fruits of Bophuthatswana and second place in 1993 for Acacia Trees. Her work has been shown internationally in more than 60 exhibitions. She has also exhibited at the 7th International Exhibit of Botanical Art and Illustration, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh, USA. In 2000 she was awarded a gold medal at the inaugural Kirstenbosch Exhibition of Botanical Art, followed by Silver in 2002 and Gold in 2004.
In December 2001 she was awarded the Cythna Letty
Medal by the Botanical Society of South Africa. In 2006 she designed a set of 6 stamps for South Africa showing Clivia species.
Gillian Condy is one of the founding members of the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa (BAASA). She runs regular art courses for SANBI and BAASA. Her artwork is found on the Blue Train
and in collections around the world. She has a son born in 1984 who is a sound & lighting technician in the TV industry.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, is a South African botanical artist. She has illustrated over 200 plates for Flowering Plants of Africa, contributed to various other South African National Botanical Institute publications and 8 plates for Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. She has illustrated two books by Charles Craib, Geophytic Pelargoniums (2001) and Grass Aloes in the South African Veld (2005). She also contributed to the biographic section in the book South African Botanical Art:Peeling back the Petals (2001).
She was born in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, the youngest of three daughters of Thomas Roy Condy and Phyllis Mary Poulton, and spent her childhood in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
where her love for Africa and its plants developed. She received her training at Middlesex Polytechnic in London as a natural history illustrator and obtained a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
for a project entitled "British Poisonous Plants".
She returned to Africa by way of Phuthadikobo Museum at Mochudi
Mochudi
Mochudi is one of the larger villages in Botswana with a population of around 40,000. It is situated in the Bakgatla tribal region, in Kgatleng District, about northeast of Gaborone...
in Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
with the International Voluntary Service and spent two years roughing it before moving to Lobatse. In 1983 she became resident botanical artist with the National Botanical Institute in Pretoria. She has retained her ties with Botswana through the design of 13 sets of postage stamps for that country since 1982.
Honours and awards
She has been awarded gold medals by the Royal Horticultural SocietyRoyal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
and in 1990 was presented with the Jill Smythies Award from the Linnean Society of London. In 1992 she received the Beeld Stamp Design of the Year award for Edible Wild Fruits of Bophuthatswana and second place in 1993 for Acacia Trees. Her work has been shown internationally in more than 60 exhibitions. She has also exhibited at the 7th International Exhibit of Botanical Art and Illustration, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh, USA. In 2000 she was awarded a gold medal at the inaugural Kirstenbosch Exhibition of Botanical Art, followed by Silver in 2002 and Gold in 2004.
In December 2001 she was awarded the Cythna Letty
Cythna Letty
Cythna Lindenberg Letty , was a South African botanical artist and is regarded as a doyenne of South African botanical art by virtue of the quality and quantity of her meticulously executed paintings and pencil sketches, produced over a period of 40 years with the National Herbarium in...
Medal by the Botanical Society of South Africa. In 2006 she designed a set of 6 stamps for South Africa showing Clivia species.
Gillian Condy is one of the founding members of the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa (BAASA). She runs regular art courses for SANBI and BAASA. Her artwork is found on the Blue Train
Blue Train (South Africa)
The Blue Train travels an approximately journey in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. It is one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world...
and in collections around the world. She has a son born in 1984 who is a sound & lighting technician in the TV industry.
Publications
- 2001 Geophytic Pelargoniums - with Charles Craib (Umdaus Press) ISBN 1 91976 614 6
- 2001 South African Botanical Art : Peeling Back the Petals (Fernwood Press) ISBN 1 87495 054 7
- 2005 Grass Aloes in the South African Veld - with Charles Craib (Umdaus Press) ISBN 1 91976 641 3