Mc Dermott's artwork derives from microscopic studies on plant morphology, ranging from drawing, painting and sculpture. Her main interest is in spent flowers for their dark contorted forms as she finds them captivating for their ability to go unnoticed and yet they are so exquisite. Being an artist who is conceptually driven and has an affinity towards exploring the arts within science she has used these botanical studies to then transformed them into contemporary sculpture through a variety of skills.
Mc Dermott was born in London in 1964 and studied Historic Decorative Crafts at De Montfort University, Lincoln. Worked for Sir Dick Reid, master stonemason and wood carver in York and for Alan Martin’s studios, in Twickenham. She studied RHS Horticulture - Plant morphology / microscopic work at Harrow College and then Botanical Illustration at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
She has exhibited nationally and will be showing her watercolours painting at the 2015 New RHS London Botanical Art Show in February, making her a medal contender. Her work has recently been short listed for RI (Royal institute of painters in water colours) exhibition in March 2015 and has also been offered a residency to paint a self-portrait at Cill Rialaig project, Ireland in April 2015.
