Last Updated: 2 june 2025,
A new art exhibition is coming to the Adelaide Botanic Garden that pays tribute to the inspired life and works of the late South Australian artist, Linda Catchlove. Launching this week, “A Whimsical Life—the art of Linda Catchlove”, will be displayed at the historic Museum of Economic Botany, with free admission to all guests.
This exhibition uniquely combines Linda’s dedication to botanical art with her creative skills developed during her early career at Disney Studios in Sydney. After transitioning to a career in horticulture in 2000, Linda’s artistic style evolved to blend meticulous botanical illustration with the playful charm of the fantastical characters she once animated. Her artwork beautifully captures the essence of Australia’s native flora, intertwined with the life of the insects and birds that populate these landscapes.
Featured in the exhibition are Linda’s watercolours, which feature the enchanting faery folk that frequently appear in her compositions.
Reflecting on her process, Linda once noted, “I often can’t help seeing that a crook in a branch or
the top of a seed pod to be a perfect place for them to have a nap or to swing from.
Linda was known not only for her stunning depictions of nature but also for her dynamic approach to capturing it. She would often be seen out in the field, excitedly pursuing her next subject with her camera and secateurs in hand.
The exhibition offers an extensive overview of her career — not just her botanical illustrations, but also her animations for Disney, her illustrations for children’s books, and various other creative accomplishments. Visitors will have the opportunity to view a large collection of her original watercolours, several first edition prints, tools she used in her artistry, botanical specimens that inspired her, and her published works.
Lindl Lawton, Manager of Interpretation and Cultural Collections at The Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, shared, “Linda’s work invites us into a world where fact and fantasy coexist, honouring both the beauty of the bush and an imagination that glimpsed magic in every leaf.”
The exhibition is open to the public from May 31st to September 14th and can be visited daily from 10am to 4pm at the Museum of Economic Botany within Adelaide Botanic Garden.
A Whimsical Life—the art of Linda Catchlove
Where: Museum of Economic Botany, Adelaide Botanic Garden, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
When: May 31st to September 14th
