Mackay, David (1958 - )

Sydney, Armidale.

David Mackay was botanical illustrator at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney for 16 years and at the National Botanic Gardens of Papua New Guinea before that. He has been guest artist at Kew Gardens London, the University of California at Berkeley and the Linnean Herbarium in London. He was commissioned to illustrate his first book - on orchids at 15. Since then he has illustrated well over 150 books and scientific papers. More than 5,000 of his drawings and paintings have been published. 

His paintings have been exhibited in Australia, England, USA, Japan and Papua New Guinea. His work is in public collections in Australia, England, USA and Papua New Guinea and in private collections around the world.

Contributed illustration to volumes of the Flora of Australia and the Flora of New South Wales (1990-1993).

Examples of his work:

Acacia ingramii
Alloxylon flameum
Doryanthes excelsa

Source: Extracted from: H.Hewson Australia - 300 Years of Botanical Illustration (1999); http://www.botanicalartqld.com.au/artist/41 ; http://www.davidmackay.com.au/