Winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Southern Highlands CanAssist Botanical Art Prize.
This is a bold and vibrant portrait of Australian native Solanum sturtianum (Sturt's nightshade or Thargomindah nightshade). Found on a wander through the Living Desert State Park near Broken Hill, the fruiting plant was dramatically lit by the morning sun. Initially on discovering it and while drawing it, I had misidentified it as the edible bush tomato, Solanum centrale. After closer inspection, after a tip off from a botanist, I realised that indeed, it was not the edible bush tomato but a poisonous cousin, Sturt's nightshade. This piece and it's title has become an important reminder to me about being more careful in researching the specimens I illustrate!
 
This is an original ink on scratchboard work, finished in a beautiful black frame without glass (60cm high x 37cm wide). The art panel has been sprayed with several coats of U.V resistant, non-yellowing, archival quality varnish to help protect it. If required, a dry, soft, lint-free cloth may be used to gently dust the artwork.