SOTHEBY’S TO HOST EXHIBITION SHOWCASING “NATURE’S CROWN JEWELS”

An exhibition of exquisite artworks of the Ancient Canopy dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) will go on display at Sotheby’s in London from 10th – 20th December 2022.
Launched in May by His Majesty The King, who is Patron of the QGC, the Ancient Canopy consists of a nationwide network of 70 Ancient Woodlands and 70 Ancient Trees dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

The exhibition will showcase a series of stunning images of the Ancient Canopy which have been captured by landscape photographers Adrian Houston and Charles Sainsbury-Plaice, alongside magnificent drawings created by artist Mary Anne Aytoun-Ellis.

The historic Ancient Woodlands and Trees portrayed by the artists will include:
• The 12th century Queen Elizabeth I Sessile Oak at Cowdray Park in West Sussex
• The Llangernyw Yew in Conwy, Wales – a living survivor from prehistoric times thought to be germinated in the Bronze Age, about 4,000 years ago
• The Black Wood of Rannock – the largest area of semi-natural pine forest in Scotland which has survived relatively undisturbed for some 10,000 years
• The inseparable brother and sister Yew trees located in the ruins of Crom Castle, Northern Ireland

Please find attached a separate document with a selection of images of the artworks which will feature in the exhibition, with captions and credits.

During the exhibition, Sotheby’s will be the setting of a private auction in support of The Queen’s Green Canopy, which is a charitable initiative. The series of artworks on display as part of the exhibition are also available for sale through The Tree Art Gallery, with a donation made in support of the QGC for each purchase. https://www.thetreeartgallery.com/

With details to be announced, two books on the Ancient Canopy will be published in 2023.

By sharing captivating picture stories of the UK’s Ancient Woodlands and Trees, often referred to as “Nature’s Crown Jewels”, the QGC aims to raise awareness of these treasured habitats which have formed the backdrop to important moments in the history of our four nations, and the importance of conserving them for future generations.

Adrian Houston said: “Trees and woodlands are a defining and constant part of the landscape and The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique way of illustrating how they connect us all on a universal level. Perhaps most crucially the project is also a timely reminder of the importance of planting for our future generations.”

Charles Sainsbury-Plaice said: “Much of my work over the past two decades has taken me to rural locations far and wide and inevitably, in a wood or near a tree. Being in a woodland with a camera is truly a happy place to be, especially as part of this wonderful project in honour of Her Majesty.”

Mary Anne Aytoun-Ellis said: “My entire career has centred around the British landscape; its diversity, richness and fragility and I have studied and drawn trees all my life. The drawings include trees now enveloped by urban growth while others contemplate a view little changed since they were Bronze Age saplings 3,000 years ago. The collection will be a powerful artistic statement and a record of some of the most precious and extraordinary trees in the UK.”

Lord Dalmeny, UK Chairman, London, Sotheby’s, said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy is a fantastic initiative which both celebrates the United Kingdom’s awe-inspiring natural history of woodland and trees, and pays a lasting tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. I hope that visitors to our New Bond Street galleries will be moved by the artworks, reflect upon the importance of conserving nationally significant habitats for future generations and perhaps even be inspired to plant a tree of their own.