This is an illustrated history of flower painting over the last 200 years, based upon Kew's archives of botanical illustrations. The author has made a selection of pictures from these archives and accompanies them with a text about the artists and their work at Kew. The work is divided into four main historical sections: the early years, up to 1780; the artist as explorer, 1780-1830; the wonder of creation, 1830-1900; and the artist as conservationist, 1900 to the present day. As well as considering the history of flower painting, Richard Mabey focuses upon individual illustrators who are important as artists, as well as a group of gifted amateurs who have contributed to Kew.