Mark Isaac-Williams (born 16 November 1939, Hong Kong) is an English botanical artist,[1] horticulturalist, and orchid expert; he has published several books on the subject.
Early life and education
Williams was born in Hong Kong to British parents, father Leonard, a sea captain, and mother Margery Isaac. In June 1940 the British Government required all women and children to leave Hong Kong as the
Japanese forces had surrounded Hong Kong. Williams and his mother sailed to Australia and lived in
Watsons Bay, Sydney. His father remained in Hong Kong and was interned at the
Stanley Internment Camp.[2]
After WWII, Williams and his mother spent time in
Shropshire, England, before returning to Hong Kong, where he and his parents lived at
The Peninsula. The hotel had been occupied by the Japanese army during the war and at that point was in a very poor state, Williams describing it as "full of mosquitos and rats."[3]
After school, Williams initially worked for an advertising company in London but moved back to Hong Kong in 1959. He worked as a clerk for the British government communications office, stationed at Victoria Barracks, for seven years.[5]
In 1962 he started teaching swimming at
Diocesan Girls' School. The job evolved to become a full-time PE teaching position, which he held for 12 years. Around this time, he joined an "amateur orchid group" led by Gloria Barretto, an orchid expert at
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG).
In 1979 Williams joined KFBG as a horticulturist, working alongside Barretto. On behalf of KFBG he travelled widely, including Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal and Papua New Guinea,[6] collecting orchid specimens[7] and studying plants in their native environment.[8] In 1984 he left KFBG and ran two florist businesses.[9] In 1985 he moved to Australia to run a plant nursery in Queensland. He lived in the UK from 2000 to 2006, returning to Hong Kong afterwards.[10]
In Hong Kong, Williams was re-hired by KFBG to revive the Orchid Haven which had grown from six species in 1977 to over 150 in 2006. In 2011 the Gloria Barretto Orchid Sanctuary was opened, where Williams worked as a consultant. In 2013 he gave up this role and became KFBG's first ever resident artist.[11] By the time he retired in 2020 he had painted pictures 130 varieties of orchids.[12]
Artwork
As an artist, Williams is entirely self-taught. His favourite medium is watercolour.[13] In 2013 he earned a diploma from the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA).[14] His prints are sold through the Lion Rock Press.[15]
Exhibitions
Williams' paintings have appeared in the following exhibitions:
Green Fingers, Artist's Hands 2021, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden[17]
Awards
2011 – American Society of Botanical Artists Nepenthes macfarlanei – Award of Merit
2015 – 17th Annual Botanical Art Exhibition Pitcher Plant collection – Bourn Award for Distinction with an Emphasis on Horticultural Presentation - for Nepenthes macfarlanei[18]