Della Purves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Della Purves
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| Born | 6 July 1945 Paisley, United Kingdom
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| Died | 17 January 2008 (aged 62) Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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| Nationality | British |
| Education | St Margaret's School, Edinburgh, East of Scotland College |
| Known for | Botanical Illustration |
Rodella Anne Purves (born July 6, 1945 – died January 17, 2008) was a very talented British artist. She was famous for her detailed drawings of plants, which is a special type of art called botanical illustration. Her beautiful artwork showed the amazing details of plants, from tiny seeds to colorful flowers.
Early Life and Learning
Rodella Purves was born in 1945 in a town called Paisley, in Scotland. When she was two years old, her family moved to Edinburgh, which is the capital city of Scotland. There, she went to St. Margaret's School.
After school, Rodella continued her education. She studied agriculture at a college in Scotland called the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture. This means she learned a lot about farming and plants. She also trained in Cambridge to become a seed tester, which is a job where you check if seeds are healthy and will grow well.
Adventures and Art Career
Rodella loved to explore! She spent a year living and working in New Zealand. There, she worked for the government, likely using her knowledge of plants and agriculture.
When she returned to Edinburgh, she started working at the Royal Botanic Garden. This was a perfect place for her because it has many different kinds of plants. It helped her learn even more about the plants she would later draw.
Becoming a Botanical Artist
In 1976, Rodella decided to focus completely on her passion: being a botanical artist. She left her job at the Botanic Garden to spend all her time drawing plants. Her artwork was so good that it was shown in exhibitions all over the world! People in the United States, Ireland, Japan, and Germany got to see her amazing plant drawings.
A very important person, the Queen's Royal Botanist, even said that Rodella was one of Britain's best artists. This shows how highly her work was valued. In 1998, she received a special prize called the Jill Smythies Award for her excellent botanical illustrations.
Later Years
Rodella Anne Purves passed away on January 17, 2008, in Edinburgh, Scotland. She left behind a wonderful collection of botanical art that continues to inspire people today.
