Four years ago Graphic Studio Dublin collaborated with The National Botanic Gardens to create the enormously successful exhibition A Natural Selection. I’m delighted they decided to do it again, naming the current show Another Bite of the Cherry, which opened on November 16th. Over 50 printmakers were invited to take part, each producing one botanic-inspired piece. As soon as I received the e-mail about it, I knew it would be the glass houses that I would focus on. I’ve always had a thing for them, the symmetry, the sharp angles, their reflective nature, the way they seem both strong and delicate. 

  Growing up, my father was a horticulturist. I remember being 8 years old, helping him to dig the foundations for the conservatory, which allowed him to grow grape vines, cucumbers, courgettes, clusters of tomatoes and a handful of miraculous peaches. I think for a man who had grown up in the Middle East, it was like creating a tiny piece of home, here in Ireland. My print Glimpsing the Tropics is an attempt to capture the magic of these stunning structures, how they house the exotic, allowing us to experience the botany of far off places. 

Glimpsing the Tropics, copper plate etching

  Watching as my Graphic Studio colleagues  worked on their prints was an absolute treat. So many incredible images have been created, diverse in both subject matter and style. Another Bite of the Cherry continues until Wednesday 6th December at the Gallery, Visitor Centre at The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin. Hope to see you there!

Alongside prints by Robert Russell, Susan Early and Elke Thonnes