About the exhibition
Studying the botanicals within the Cathedrals herb garden, this solo exhibition showcases the plants and architecture at the centre of London bridge and Borough Market. The body of work is in oil paints and is a continuation of the artists desire to document and look closer at the natural world.
In the artist's words,
“The garden has around 50 different varieties of herbs, drawing inspiration from Biblical and Shakespearean connections. This summer, I have focused on painting them both from photography and en plein air; framing each herb with the surrounding architecture and foliage. Having spent three years at art school within Southwark, this herb garden has been a retreat for me from day one. It has provided for me a quite space that reflects the botanical beauty and medicinal knowledge to be found in even the smallest leaf of Creation. To slow down, inquire, paint and draw each plant has brought me a lot of joy. Within the rush of urban life, the traces of the original bishop's chapel are still intact, with a brilliance of roses, Myrtle, Hyssop, Hop and Soapwort taking root. Here, the intermingling of an ever-evolving outer world and the steadfast hope of seasonal bloom is met. This layered, breathing and colourful narrative of the garden and herbs is something I have sought to reenact through paint application.”
The garden is accessible through the churchyard.
For more information about the herb garden and the artist please visit the website links below:
Churchyard Herb Garden
About the artist
Deborah Frank is a practicing painter living in West Essex. Her work explores themes of structure, rhythm and materiality within landscape. Having had a love for drawing and photography from a young age, her work begins from documentational responses to her surroundings, where she primarily works en plein air. Within group exhibitions and competitions, Deborah’s work has been curated alongside her contemporaries, exhibiting regularly through London's art scene. Most recently, as winner of the Wildcard Sky Landscape Artist of the Year 2026, she competed in the semi finals for her “brave” “painterly approach”.
