The Linnean Society Library
Some moments arrive quietly, yet they stay with you forever.
Yesterday was one of those moments.
I opened my email and read the words that I had hoped to see:
I have officially been elected as a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London.
For a few seconds I simply stared at the screen.
Then came a very loud…
WooooHOooo!
It is difficult to describe what this means to me. It is not simply another membership or another title to add after my name. It feels like becoming part of a story that began more than two centuries ago and continues to inspire everyone who is fascinated by the natural world.
As a botanical artist, I spend countless hours looking closely at plants. Really looking.
The shape of a leaf.
The tiny hairs on a stem.
The delicate curve of a petal.
The way light changes the colour of a flower throughout the day.
Botanical painting teaches you that nothing in nature is ordinary. Every plant has its own personality, structure and story. The more you observe, the more you discover.
That is exactly why becoming a Fellow of the Linnean Society feels so special.
A visit that stayed with me
Last year I had the opportunity to visit the Linnean Society in London.
I had been looking forward to it for a long time.
Walking through its rooms felt different from visiting a museum or a gallery. There was a quiet atmosphere filled with history, curiosity and respect for nature. I spent time looking through the collections, learning about the Society and imagining the remarkable scientists, botanists and naturalists who had been there before me.
It is difficult to explain, but some places leave an impression that stays long after you leave.
This was one of those places.
I remember walking away thinking, “I would love to be connected with this place one day.”
Since then, I have thought about that visit many times.
Now, only a year later, I have become a Fellow.
Life can surprise us in the most wonderful ways.
What is the Linnean Society?
Founded in 1788, the Linnean Society of London is the world’s oldest active society dedicated to the study of natural history.
It is named after the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, whose system for naming and classifying living organisms is still used today. Every plant that I paint carries a scientific name that exists because of the foundations laid by Linnaeus and generations of botanists who followed him.
The Society brings together people from many different backgrounds who share a passion for understanding the natural world. Its Fellows include botanists, zoologists, ecologists, researchers, educators, conservationists and people who simply believe that nature deserves to be studied, protected and celebrated.
One of the most famous moments in its history took place in 1858, when the papers by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace introducing the theory of evolution by natural selection were presented at the Society.
To be connected with such an institution is both exciting and humbling.
Why this matters to me
People often ask why I paint plants.
The answer is simple.
Plants have become my teachers.
Through botanical painting I have learned patience.
I have learned observation.
I have learned to slow down enough to notice details that most people never see.
Every painting begins long before I pick up a brush. It begins with spending time with the plant itself. Looking from every angle. Asking questions. Understanding its structure, texture and character.
Only then do I begin to paint.
That approach has shaped not only my artwork but also the way I experience life.
Nature has become one of my greatest sources of inspiration and peace.
Historically significant scientific books.
More than beautiful paintings
Many people see botanical art as simply painting flowers.
For me it is much more than that.
Every painting is a portrait.
Just as a portrait artist tries to reveal the personality of a person, I try to reveal the unique character of each plant.
Some are elegant.
Some are strong.
Some are playful.
Some have survived in the harshest environments.
Each one tells a story.
When collectors bring one of my paintings into their home, I hope they see more than a beautiful image. I hope they begin to notice the extraordinary beauty that exists in the natural world around them every day.
Pressed dried roses from the herbarium.
Connecting science and art
One of the reasons I admire the Linnean Society is that it reminds us that science and art have always worked together.
Long before photography existed, botanical artists were essential. Their illustrations helped scientists identify, describe and understand plants from around the world.
Accuracy mattered.
Observation mattered.
Art mattered.
Although my paintings are created for collectors and exhibitions, they are still built on those same foundations of careful observation and respect for nature.
Every new painting teaches me something I did not know before.
Every plant becomes another lesson.
First edition of Charles Darwin’s book.
What this means for Me
Becoming a Fellow does not mean reaching the end of a journey.
If anything, it feels like the beginning of a new chapter.
It encourages me to keep learning.
To continue studying plants.
To deepen my understanding of botanical art.
To connect with other people who share a passion for nature.
It also inspires me as I continue developing my online painting programme, where I hope to help others discover the joy of slowing down, observing nature and creating meaningful artwork.
Botanical painting is not only about producing beautiful paintings.
It changes the way you look at the world.
Once you truly begin observing plants, you never see them in quite the same way again.
A heartfelt thank you
I feel incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported my artistic journey over the years.
From my tutors and mentors to collectors, exhibition organisers, fellow artists, friends and family, every conversation, every opportunity and every word of encouragement has helped me reach this point.
There is still so much to learn.
There are still countless plants waiting to be painted.
There are many more stories waiting to be told.
Receiving the news that I have become a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London is a milestone that I will always remember.
It reminds me why I chose this path.
It reminds me that curiosity never stops.
It reminds me that art and nature belong together.
And most of all, it reminds me that sometimes the dreams that quietly begin during a single visit to a special place really can become reality.
I cannot wait to see where this next chapter takes me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Inessa Falina is a London-based botanical artist and teacher. A fellow of the Linnean Society in London and member of the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society and Society Botanical Artists, she has exhibited at The Mall Galleries and Chelsea Old Town Hall, with work held in private collections across Europe, the USA and Australia. Through her art and teaching, she helps people slow down, observe nature deeply and find calm through the practice of painting. You can follow her work on Instagram at @inessa.falina
— Inessa
