Catherine Teresa Cookson facts for kids

Catherine Teresa Cookson was an amazing Irish artist. She was also known as Mrs. James Cookson. She lived in the 1830s and was famous for her botanical art. This means she drew and painted plants. She helped record many plants from India.

About Her Life

Catherine Teresa Murray was born in County Wicklow, Ireland. We don't know much about her early life. Her father's name was P. Murray.

She married George James Cookson in 1832. He was a soldier in the Bengal Artillery. Sadly, her husband passed away in 1838.

Her Wonderful Artworks

Catherine Teresa Cookson is best known for her book. It is called Flowers Drawn and Painted in India. This book was published around 1835. It is the only work we know of by her.

Cookson both wrote and drew the pictures for this book. It has 31 beautiful drawings of plants from India. These pictures are special because they are hand-coloured lithographs. This means they were printed and then carefully coloured by hand.

In 1964, Queen Elizabeth II gave this special book to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Library. It was a gift for the opening of their new building.