Bee Orchid Watercolours

This is a botanical watercolour which I painted using sketches and specimens taken from a protected wild flower meadow in Norfolk. The flowers are very complex and tiny so a magnifying glass was needed. The rich vibrant colours were build up using many layers of paint.
Ophrys apifera, known in Europe as the bee orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae. The name "Ophrys" derives from the Greek word ophrys, meaning "eyebrow", while the Latin specific epithet apifera means "bee-bearing" or "bee-bringing" and refers to the bee-shaped lip of the orchid.

Signed on the front and accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity.

Zoe is an award winning artist and her paintings are in many public and private collections around the world.