Herbarium Vitae: Roses & Peonies is the first book illustrator Phoebe Atkey has released with NHP Publishing.

Herbarium Vitae is a collection of colour-pencil illustrations by artist Phoebe Atkey. As part of NHP’s Collective Shorts series, this book sees Phoebe produce a series of work in the style of traditional Victorian herbarium or animalium depictions but re-imagined with a modern twist. The collection takes us through a set of exquisite floral images of Roses and Peonies. Phoebe’s style is detailed and precise. However, when set against a minimalist book design this provides an alternative and fun way to showcase Phoebe’s fantastic artistic abilities.

For this book Phoebe was influenced by the work of Belgian painter and botanist, Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Here, alongside the whimsical and beautiful floral illustrations, Phoebe also interjects the contents with fuller illustrations of the plants in situ and also scenes that draw on the key theme of her book. Laden with subtle and peaceful colour tones, each image touches on the beauty of Phoebe’s floral subjects.

“Herbarium Vitae” is part of an exciting new book series that NHP Publishing and Phoebe Atkey are developing together – Herbarium & Animalium. Through precise illustration, this series will encompass the world of plants, trees, and animals and will move onto minerals and other elements.