"If you can paint one leaf, you can paint the whole world"
Margareta Pertl has been a botanical illustrator for 20 years. She lives in Vienna and Dublin, but spends much of her time traveling to places where she can capture the likeness of the plant world.
Laelia purpurata
Margareta Pertl spends a good portion of her time traveling around the world looking for the flowers she wants to illustrate.
Paphiopedilum wardii x dayanum
Botanical illustration offers greater scope to capture the depth of detail than even the most high-tech photography.
Paphiopedilum sp.
Painting plants helps to generate a deeper awareness of the environment in which we live.
Paphiopedilum wardii x dayanum
Although botanical illustration has been used for centuries, it shows no sign of becoming an obsolete form of documentation.
Aerangis distincta
The plant kingdom comes to life in a whole other way when recorded on paper.
Angraecum sesquipedale
Madagascar is home to a whole range of orchids and is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
Bulbophyllum
As plant species continue to disappear, often before they have even been named, botanical illustration proves a vital recording tool.
Dracocephalum austriacum
Getting the roots right is an important part of the job for a botanical illustrator.