Illustration student's design selected for Liverpool Botanical Trust branding

A talented LJMU student has won the Liverpool Botanical Collection Student Art Competition with her design now featuring across a series of branded materials.

Hannah Caitlin Williams, a final year illustration student, impressed the judges with her digitally created illustration of a Dracaena Fragrans ‘Victoria’ plant and Fuchsia ‘Snow Cap’ flower created in celebration of one of the country’s finest, and oldest, botanical collections. 

Her artwork now features across a suite of marketing materials for the Liverpool Botanical Trust to help promote their work and to raise the profile of the collection among communities in the city and beyond.

Further afield, Hannah’s work also features on a new free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects designed to enhance people’s understanding of the collection from anywhere at any time with its audio tours and detailed plant images.  

As part of her prize, Hannah will also have a private tour of the collection and undertake a bespoke botanical art lesson with artist Sue McHugh who judged the competition and selected Hannah as the winner.

It is a great privilege and honour to have had my work selected by the Liverpool Botanical Trust. Being an avid green thumb and plant lover myself, I am filled with joy at this opportunity.

Having my work be used in marketing and signage for the Liverpool Botanical Trust puts my name and style out there as an artist, welcoming any further opportunities.

Winning this competition has definitely boosted my confidence as an artist and I have proven to myself that, in this ever-uncertain world as a creative, I can be successful and confident in my practice.

Illustration student Hannah 

“Winning this competition has definitely boosted my confidence as an artist and I have proven to myself that, in this ever-uncertain world as a creative, I can be successful and confident in my practice.”

Dr Diahann Gallard, from LJMU’s School of Education and Trustee of the Liverpool Botanical Trust, said: “It is especially poignant that an LJMU student’s work was selected from the high-quality submissions from children and young people across Merseyside.”

Remarkable Liverpudlian figure William Roscoe, who played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Liverpool Mechanics’ and Apprentices’ Library, the precursor of LJMU, was also the founder of the Liverpool Botanic Garden where today’s collection originates.

Dr Gallard added: “LJMU has been working with the Liverpool Botanical Trust in many different ways, most recently its Research Institute for Literature and Cultural History hosted joint symposia on the cultural and scientific history of the Orchid and Ginger collections.” 

Hannah’s artwork beautifully captures the spirit, legacy and importance of the Liverpool Botanical Collection and it will be a beautiful addition to our marketing assets. We’re proud to support emerging talent and thrilled to see the city’s rich horticultural heritage brought to life through her creative vision.

Alan Smith, Liverpool City Councils’ Head of Heritage Preservation and Development and Trustee of the Liverpool Botanical Trust

About the Liverpool Botanical Collection and Trust

The Liverpool Botanical Collection, owned by Liverpool City Council, has both historical and scientific significance and is housed at Croxteth Hall and Country Park.

Plants originating from the Botanical Collection’s previous locations across Liverpool now live in the four historic glasshouses and a polytunnel at the hall.  

Long-serving horticulturalists care for these collections which are open to a limited number of visitors on guided tours.

The Liverpool Botanical Trust was created in October 2023, to assist Liverpool City Council with the preservation of the collection and to manage developments. These include a project to renew Croxteth Hall's Peach House funded through a 2024 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund secured by Chair of the Trust, Stephen Lyus, and the Head of Heritage Preservation and Development for Liverpool City Council, Alan Smith.