Tree drawings

The Chinese Persimmon (Diospyros kaki), grown today for Sharon fruit, has been cultivated in China for over 2000 years. However it is now acclaimed worldwide as the tree which survived the atomic bomb detonated over Nagasaki on 9th August 1945. Amidst the devastation, several years later, two small trees emerged 2.5km from the hypocentre. These were nurtured under the guidance of Dr Masayuki Ebinuma, who developed the international “Kaki Tree Project” as a peace gesture. Since 1998, saplings from the two survivors have been sent to many countries including the UK.

Ewan has drawn the Kaki tree in the gardens of the Nature in Art Gallery and Museum in 2015, 2016 and 2017 to show how the little tree is developing. He is still in awe of a tree with such a history.

Ewan is now working, as an artist, with the John Innes Centre to illustrate issues such as Ash Dieback and to support its charitable pursuits.

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant science and microbiology.

Our mission is to generate knowledge of plants and microbes through innovative research, to train scientists for the future, to apply our knowledge of nature’s diversity to benefit agriculture, the environment, human health and wellbeing, and engage with policy makers and the public.

To achieve these goals we establish pioneering long-term research objectives in plant and microbial science, with a focus on genetics. These objectives include promoting the translation of research through partnerships to develop improved crops and to make new products from microbes and plants for human health and other applications. We also create new approaches, technologies and resources that enable research advances and help industry to make new products. The knowledge, resources and trained researchers we generate help global societies address important challenges including providing sufficient and affordable food, making new products for human health and industrial applications, and developing sustainable bio-based manufacturing.

This provides a fertile environment for training the next generation of plant and microbial scientists, many of whom go on to careers in industry and academia, around the world.

The John Innes Centre is strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). In 2015-2016 the John Innes Centre received a total of £30.1 million from the BBSRC.

The John Innes Centre is also supported by the John Innes Foundation through provision of research accommodation and long term support of the Rotation PhD programme.

The John Innes Centre is the winner of the BBSRC’s 2013 – 2016 Excellence With Impact award.

A Callery pear tree was planted by the World Trade Centre in the 1970’s. On 11th of September 2001, as the Twin Towers collapsed, it was smashed, burned and covered in debris. The remains, with broken and torn branches and roots, were recovered in October and transported to the New York Parks Department’s nursery in the Bronx. The tree measured a mere 8 feet in height.

After some nine years of nurture, the Callery pear, now 30 feet high, was returned to Ground Zero on 21st December 2010. Today it is a beautiful tree, spectacular in flower, a fitting memorial to survival, resilience and rebirth.

Live Oak – 10.20

The Live Oak, specifically the southern variety (Quercus virginiana), is the iconic tree of the old American South. When mature, these trees can be of immense proportions, typically over 60ft tall and 80ft wide. The great branches are commonly draped with Spanish moss, an epiphyte which is neither Spanish nor moss. Live oaks are seen to particular advantage on St Simon’s Island where they were once harvested to provide the framework for the USS Constitution. It is recorded that the British cannon balls bounced off the oak. The Live Oak is the official state tree of Georgia.

Ewan is fortunate in having been able to spend part of the last four summers on St Simon’s Island drawing these magnificent trees.

Live Oak

Live Oak

The Nature in Art Gallery and Museum, located just north of Gloucester, is unique. It demonstrates the links between Nature and art in a series of galleries which include pictures in every medium, sculpture, ceramics, pottery, metalwork etc. The works of most well known nature artists are represented.

Kaki tree

The Gallery has gardens with magnificent mature trees and a wide range of sculptures. However, perhaps the most interesting tree is the smallest. It is a Kaki tree (Diospyros kaki), the only tree to survive effects of the Atomic Bomb in Nagasaki.

During his period as Artist in Residence (21st until 26th July, 2015), Ewan was particularly pleased to be able to draw the Kaki tree.

Find out more about the Nature in Art Gallery and Museum at http://natureinart.org.uk.