Fine art photography which explores our relationship with the botanical world.
As humans, we have a complex relationship with plants and my botanical art explores various facets of this relationship. This exploration includes reflecting on the meanings and feelings that plants can convey or embody for different groups of people.
I have long been inspired by the power of botanical illustrations to highlight the intricate beauty of plants and convey a feeling of peacefulness and tranquillity. I explore this power in my work through the use of creative photographic techniques. One such technique is the use of a light box to bring out the fine details in plants. In this process, I digitally paint in elements from multiple exposures to create compositions which blur the lines between photography and illustration.
Awards
February 2024 – Still Life – Honourable Mention Award, Teravarna Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
November 2023 – Floral and Botanical Art – Distinction, Gallery 4%, San Francisco, CA, USA
October 2023 – Abstract – Finalist Award, Teravarna Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
September 2023 – Non Representational and Unreal – Distinction, Gallery 4%, San Francisco, CA, USA
July 2023 – Wild Land July 2023 – Highly Commended, WILD Photo Awards
July 2023 – Flower – Honourable Mention Award, Teravarna Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
June 2023 – Wild Land June 2023 – Runner Up, WILD Photo Awards
Group Exhibitions
March 2024 – Bloom, The Secret Salon, London, UK
February 2024 – Creative Photography, Artdoc Photography Magazine, (virtual)
October 2023 – Algorithms, State of the Art Gallery, London, UK
August 2023 – Summer, The Open Gallery, Halifax, UK
July 2023 – THRIVE, The Hold, Ipswich, UK (curated by Led Creatives)
December 2022 – Alternative Process, Artdoc Photography Magazine, (virtual)
December 2022 – From Within, Liberation Art Gallery, Brighton, UK
May 2022 – IDAHOBIT Digital Exhibition, LGBT+ Consortium, (virtual)
In Print
Hadwen-Bennett, Alex, “Lavender Nights”, Snowflake Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1, March 2024, p. 21
Flora/Fauna Volume 1, Cover, Open Shutter Press, February 2024
Hadwen-Bennett, Alex, “Turing’s Sunflower”, Snowflake Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2023, p. 45
Hadwen-Bennett, Alex, “Clematis Alpina”, Artdoc Photography Magazine, Issue 6 2022, December 2022, p. 43