Residency and Award in Botanical Art in Honor of Ruth A. Stiff and Rory McEwen 2027

About this call

The Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Upperville, Virginia, gives a special award in botanical art in honor of Ruth A. Stiff, curator of international exhibitions for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Scottish artist Rory McEwen. The 2027 award goes to a botanical artist whose career and artworks have contributed meaningfully to botanical art and illustration. It includes a $5,000 individual grant, a three-week residency at Oak Spring, and an offer to buy one final work on paper for $1,000 for the OSGF Florilegium. Residents have a private bedroom and bathroom in shared housing, a studio space, a bicycle, tours of the garden, landscape and library, and may ask to use plants from the formal garden. OSGF arranges transport from Dulles International Airport. Selection is by a panel of botanical artists, curators and professionals in the field.

Who can apply

• Open to applicants of any nationality
• Medium: Painting / Drawing / Ink / Mixed Media / Printmaking
• Entry fee: See official site
• Open to all botanical artists with an established track record and a well-developed body of work, based in the US or overseas, including past Oak Spring residents. Only artists working from direct observation of plant specimens to create scientifically accurate depictions should apply. Accepted mediums: watercolor, pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, mixed media, oil, acrylic, gouache, egg tempera, original prints. Not accepted: three-dimensional work including botanical sculpture, reproductions, photography, digitally generated work. Submit a CV of no more than two pages, a 200 to 300 word description of your current body of work, a 200 to 300 word statement on your interest in and connection to Rory McEwen's work, and 10 images with dimensions, year, medium and title. Preliminary vetting is by OSGF staff; final selection by a panel of established botanical artists, curators and professionals. Choose Session I (April 25 to May 16, 2027) or Session II (August 29 to September 19, 2027) and arrive on the exact start date for the introductory tour early the next day. Botanical artists are asked to join about 3 weekly meals with the 2-week Interdisciplinary Residents on site at the same time. Residents arrange their own travel to Dulles International Airport. The application form says it must be completed by 1:59 pm EST on November 11, 2026. Awards announced December 22, 2026.