Herbarium

The ongoing series of botanically accurate drawings based on pressed plant specimens collected by Tracey. The leaves, sepals and flowers are created from found paper packaging which collides the consumerist culture within which we live with the dexterous application of collage inspired by the 'paper mosiaks' of Mary Delaney c.1770. Each unique image is created on a 'herbarium sheet' which is cotton rag paper the standard size of 41 X 29cm.

Tracey has developed her use of the herbarium press with advice and assistance from botanists in the Wildlife Trust and the Natural History Museum, London. Larger wild plants, in the 'Nitrogen Series' were pressed using a bespoke herbarium press created by Tracey from supermarket boxes, scrim and luggage straps. Aiming to rekindle appreciation of neglected botanical species, it is essential to examine and celebrate each individual plant, not a generalised 'nettle', taken from a Google search.