Sylva appoints artist in residence

Friday 6th January 2012

The illustrator and writer behind three major art reference books has been appointed as artist in residence of an environmental charity.

Dr Sarah Simblet, a trained fine artist who specialises in drawing, is now working with the Sylva Foundation, which supports forestry science, promotes trees and their management and the production and availability of home-grown timber.

It is the first time the charity, based in Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire, has made such an appointment. During her two-year residency, Dr Simblet will produce a catalogue of drawings celebrating forests and trees. These will be featured in a book to be published in 2014, supported by the Sylva Foundation.

Its publication will coincide with the 350th anniversary of John Evelyn's original Sylva, published by the Royal Society in 1664.

Dr Simblet will co-author the book with foundation chief executive Dr Gabriel Hemery.

He said: "We are delighted and excited to have Sarah Simblet as the Sylva Foundation's first artist in residence. Sarah first worked with Sylva in our OneOak project where her wonderful drawings became iconic to the project. Her work as our artist in residence over the next two years will result in about 100 original drawings that will feature in a book, supported by the Sylva Foundation, to be published by Bloomsbury in 2014: The New Sylva.

"This will be an important part of our future education programme, bringing the beauty and importance of trees to a wide readership."

Dr Simblet and Dr Hemery have set up a website for the book project at http://www.NewSylva.com.

Dr Simblet's previous publications include Botany For The Artist, published by Dorling Kindersley in 2010.

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