Shirley Sherwood | |
---|---|
Born | Shirley Angela Cross 1 July 1933 [1] |
Education | University of Oxford |
Occupation | Author |
Known for | Interest in botanical illustration |
Notable work | See Bibliography |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 sons |
Shirley Angela Sherwood OBE (née Cross, born 1 July 1933) is a British writer, botanist and philanthropist.
She was born Shirley Cross. [2] Sherwood was educated at St Anne's College, Oxford. She took a bachelor's degree in botany and a D.Phil. working on a project that led to tagamet. [3]
She is primarily a collector of, [4] and author of books about, [4] [5] botanical illustrations. The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, opened on 19 April 2008, at Kew Gardens is named after her. [4] It was the first gallery in the world dedicated solely to botanical art. Sherwood has been described as a "driving force behind a revival of interest in botanical art". [6]
She is a vice-president of the Nature in Art Trust. [7]
Sherwood was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to botanical art. [8]
In 1977, Sherwood married the businessman James Sherwood, [2] [9] who appeared in the 2004 Sunday Times Rich List. [10]
Her sons, Simon and Charles, from her previous marriage adopted his surname. [2]