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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Highlight from my third Society of Botanical Artists Diploma coursework 🎨, focused on mixing greens and painting leaves. I'm really pleased with the curve and colour gradation of this Photinia davidiana leaf. www.hgpenningtonart....

Photinia leaf drawn in coloured pencil on white paper

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Reposted by @hgpennington

NullPointer 🍄 @nuiipointer.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Interesting fungal find: This parasitic plant fungus (Exobasidium karstenii) lives exclusively on bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) and makes some of the leaves much broader, and purple. The green and the purple leaves here are the same plant! #naturephotography #fungifriends

Top view of some bog-rosemary, with narrow, green, rolled up leaves. In the middle is a sprig of broad, purple leaves. They are the same plant, but infected with a gall fungus.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Highlight from my third Society of Botanical Artists Diploma coursework 🎨, focused on mixing greens and painting leaves. The Buddleia leaf, showing the underside, gives a good sense of protruding venation, but the edges of the veins could be sharper. www.hgpenningtonart....

Buddelia leaf drawn in coloured pencil on white paper

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Highlight from my third Society of Botanical Artists Diploma coursework 🎨, focused on mixing greens and painting leaves: Ilex aquifolium (holly). I'm particularly pleased with the impression of depth around the midrib. www.hgpenningtonart....

holly leaf drawn in coloured pencil on white paper

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I'm taking a bit of a break from social media. I'll be posting highlights from my botanical illustration coursework pieces instead of my weekly new illustrations, and I'm going to skip the weekday posts for a little while 🙂

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

In 2025 I painted Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) on rose. It’s not possible to tell ringspot viruses apart based on symptoms alone. Other circumstantial evidence, including infection on nearby plum trees, made it likely that PNRSV was the cause. hgpenningtonart.com/...

The painting depicts a compound rose leaf with four primary leaflets and one terminal leaflet. There are pale rings on the leaflets, indicating ringspot infection.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I drew a Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. One of the most recognisable pests of potato, with its distinctive black stripes on the wing cases and dark markings on the pronotum. hgpenningtonart.com/...

Black and white pen drawing of a Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, viewed from the side. The oval beetle has ten dark longitudinal stripes on its wing cases, dark markings on its pronotum, six segmented legs and long antennae. It is drawn on lined paper.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

In 2022 I painted oomycete Albugo infection on a wild brassica. The original, excellent, photograph was by @Llewelyn68. www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows a long flower stem, with leaves, flower buds and long thin seed pods at the top. The stem and buds are all covered in white fluffy patches, as though someone has sprinkled flour over them.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

In 2023 I painted box blight, caused by two closely related fungi Calonectria pseudonaviculata and C. henricotae. www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows four box bush twigs, with increasing disease progression from left to right. The twig on the left is mostly healthy, with two lesions on the leaves. The second twig has small stem lesions, and several lesions on the leaves. The third twig has elongated stem lesions, and has lost all but two leaves, one of which is dead and about to fall. The final twig is dry and brown, with one dead leaf and one fallen leaf below it.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In 2024 I painted pear rust symptoms, caused by the fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae, for the August illustration of the BSPP plant pathogens calendar. www.bspp.org.uk/prod...

Left: The painting shows the adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower) sides of a leaf, with two bright orange spots visible on both surfaces. The abaxial lesions have a gall-like outgrowth. Right: A juniper branch with a jelly-like, tentacled outgrowth.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. lobster hgpenningtonart.com/...

a lobster drawn in black biro on white paper

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

For Assignment 4b of my Society of Botanical Artists Diploma coursework, I drew a single flower of Fuchsia magellanica ‘Bernisser Hardy’. I chose colours a couple of shades darker than normal, as they seem to get absorbed into the vellum. See more: hgpenningtonart.co.u...

Botanical illustration of a single flower of Fuchsia magellanica ‘Bernisser Hardy’. he illustration is drawn in coloured pencil using Prismacolor, Karisma and Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils on vellum.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

In 2022 I painted a nematode, stained with acid fuchsin, in a root. www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows a pink/purple nematode surrounded by long thin plant root cells

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

In 2023 I painted Pierce’s disease of grape, caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows a single grapevine cane with two petioles, and two leaves. The ‘matchstick’ petioles have remained attached to the cane after their leaves have fallen. The margins of the two remaining leaves have dried out, with red colouration appearing between the dry areas and the green leaves. The wood of the cane has matured irregularly, with patches of green (‘green islands’) surrounded by brown.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. torii gate hgpenningtonart.com/...

A shrine, framed by a torii gate at the front

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I’m pleased to share my fourth Society of Botanical Artists Diploma coursework🎨 Assignment 4a focused on flowerheads. I chose a varied selection of shapes, colours and sizes. All flowerheads had to be shown with the stem, but with no leaves. See more: hgpenningtonart.co.u...

Botanical illustration showing seven flowerheads, each representing a different flowering plant. The specimens are: #1 Zantedeschia ‘Captain Series’ (calla lily); #2 Tagetes patula (French marigold); #3 Tricyrtis stolonifera (toad lily); #4 Anthurium andraeanum (anthurium); #5 Petunia × atkinsiana ‘Sky Series’ (petunia); #6 Paphiopedilum maudiae (Venus slipper orchid); and #7 Phalaenopsis sp. (unknown cultivar) (moth orchid). The flowers are depicted in botanical detail, showing their distinctive shapes, colours and markings. The illustration is drawn in coloured pencil, using Prismacolor, Karisma and Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils on white paper.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Stunning ringspot virus symptoms on a dogrose!

A photograph of white ring shaped spots on pink dogrose petals

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

In 2023 I painted northern corn leaf blight, caused by the fungus Setosphaeria turcica (anamorph Exserohilum turcicum; synonym Helminthosporium turcicum). www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows a corn (maize) stem with one leaf, and one partial leaf. There are long, cigar-shaped, brown lesions on the leaf. The lesions have grey-green margins.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. ginko hgpenningtonart.com/...

A drawing in black biro on white watercolour paper, of seven ginko leaves on the end of a twig

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I sketched a lighthouse in black biro on white paper. I picked out the shade and darker tones using biro linework, building up the depth with layers of hatching and cross-hatching.

A lighthouse and some bushes, sketched in black biro on white paper, with shading and darker areas created using fine linework.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

In 2022 I painted southern blight of tomato, caused by the fungus Athelia rolfsii (Sclerotium rolfsii). Original photograph by Alabama Ed x.com/plantpathgrads... www.hgpenningtonart....

The photograph shows the base of a tomato stem where it meets the soil. The stem has been covered by white fungal mycelia, which in turn is covered by spherical sclerotia, like sprinkles on a cake, in varying shades from dark brown through tan to white.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

In 2023 I painted sour rot of grapes, a disease complex with multiple causal organisms including yeast, bacteria and fruit flies. www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows a bunch of green grapes. The infected grapes have deflated and turned brown.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. praying mantis hgpenningtonart.com/...

A large female praying mantis, which is looking at the camera, draw in in biro on white paper

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I sketched two hibiscus flowers in black biro on white paper. I picked out the shade and darker tones using biro linework, building up the depth with layers of hatching and cross-hatching.

Two hibiscus flowers sketched in black biro on white paper, with shading and darker areas created using fine linework.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

In 2022 I painted soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) infection symptoms. www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows soybean roots, with three nitrogen-fixing root nodules and 40 much smaller lemon-shaped soybean cysts. The young cysts are cream coloured and turn tan, then brown, as they mature.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

In 2023 I painted cherry blossom wilt, caused by the fungus Monilinia laxa or M. fructigena. www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows cherry twig, where the blossoms and new leaves have shrivelled and turned brown.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

In 2025 I drew a cartoon about smut - the fungal kind. I created it for the @plantpathgrads Art in Phytopathology competition. This is the funniest I will ever be. I have peaked For details and an explanation, see: hgpenningtonart.com/...

a black-and-white cartoon featuring a humorous take on plant smut diseases, playing on the double meaning of the word “smut.” The humour comes from the risqué implication of the word “smut,” combined with the fact that most of these smut diseases are destructive plant infections

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. hand with maple leaf hgpenningtonart.com/...

A hand holding a small acer leaf between finger and thumb, draw in in biro on white paper

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I drew this pinecone in pen and ink, using linework and stippling to create areas of light and shade. I'm really pleased with the sense of depth and the three-dimensional effect. hgpenningtonart.com/...

Black and white pen-and-ink drawing of a pinecone, using fine linework and stippling to create depth and texture.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

In 2024 I painted potato blight (Phytophthora infestans) for the August illustration of the BSPP plant pathogens calendar. bspp.org.uk/product/...

The painting shows a potato stem infected with potato blight. The plant has four compound leaves. The lower leaves show clear lesions, while the upper leaves appear wilted and dried. In the top-right corner, a potato tuber is visible, showing dark brown lesions characteristic of late blight infection.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

In 2023 painted fusarium head blight (also known as fusarium ear blight, or scab) on wheat, caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum. www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows two wheat spikes. On the left-hand head, the spikelets have bleached, becoming straw-coloured, whilst those at the base remain green. On the right-hand head, the middle spikelets have bleached, whilst those at the tip and base of the spike remain green.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

In 2022 I painted Meloidogyne root knot nematode infection symptoms on lettuce. www.hgpenningtonart....

Pop-art style painting of a lettuce seedling, showing four leaves, the stem and roots. The roots have many bead-like galls.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. road trip hgpenningtonart.com/...

A drawing of two men in the front of a car, one driving and one navigating. Scenery including mountains and cars can be seen through the windscreen. The drawing was done in black biro on white paper.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

I painted symptoms of the rReniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis, on an aubergine root. hgpenningtonart.com/...

The painting shows a horizontal root with five root hair cells, two feeding female adult nematodes and one egg sac. The nematodes and egg sac have been painted as though stained with fuchsin pink.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

In 2022 painted apple scab, caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis. www.hgpenningtonart....

Pop-art style picture of a simplified branch, five leaves and a red/green apple. Four of the leaves are twisted, one is yellowing and all have black, scabby spots. The apple has brown scabby spots too.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

In 2023 I painted olive peacock spot, caused by the fungus Spilocaea oleaginea (synonyms Cycloconium oleaginum and Venturia oleaginea). www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows an olive twig. The leaves are green at the tip, gradually changing to yellow at the base. There are dark grey-green circles on the adaxial (upper) leaf surface.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. Akase station - a tiny train station hgpenningtonart.com/... A tram, viewed at an angle, draw in in biro on white paper

Akase station - a tiny train station made of corrugated plastic sheeting and metal beams, by the side of a single track rail line, draw in in biro on white paper

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

For Assignment 3b of my Society of Botanical Artists Diploma coursework, I drew a pelargonium leaf on vellum. The vellum was smoother than expected, making it difficult to build up sufficient colour. Surface flaws posed further challenges. See more: hgpenningtonart.co.u...

a pelargonium leaf drawn in coloured pencil on vellum

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

In 2023 I painted Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) symptoms. www.hgpenningtonart....

Pop-art style picture of a simplified banana plant. The new leaves at the top of the plant are narrower and flatter than normal, causing them to appear bunched together. The leaf margins are wavy and chlorotic (yellow), with brown necrotic regions.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

In 2022 I painted Alternaria leaf spot on cabbage and potato scab, caused by Streptomyces spp. www.hgpenningtonart.... @NeilGud pointed out that the potato lesions may be black scurf, as the lesions are raised x.com/NeilGud/status...

Alternaria: a simplified green cabbage leaf with pale green veins. Symptoms shown are round, brown spots with concentric rings and a yellow halo surrounding the lesion. Streptomyces: three simplified potatoes, with raised, rough patches of dark brown skin.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. Tram hgpenningtonart.com/...

A tram, viewed at an angle, draw in in biro on white paper

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I’m pleased to share my third Society of Botanical Artists Diploma coursework🎨 Assignment 3a focused on mixing greens and painting leaves. I chose a varied selection of leaves with different shapes, colours, and textures. See more: hgpenningtonart.co.u...

Seven leaves drawn in coloured pencil on white paper. One leaf is red, one yellow and brown, and five predominantly green. One of the green leaves is a long blade of grass, which leads the viewer around the page

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

In 2025 I painted symptoms of Arabidopsis downy mildew infection, caused by Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis on a juvenile Arabidopsis leaf. This artwork was commissioned for Professor Jonathan Jones’ retirement seminar and featured on the invitations. hgpenningtonart.com/...

The painting shows a single, bright green, round leaf. Conidiophores cover the surface, illustrated as white round shapes (conidia) at the tips of black lines (conidiophore stems, branches and metulae). The overall effect resembles a mouldy green table tennis racket.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

In 2022 I painted grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) symptoms. www.hgpenningtonart.... The National Grape Research Alliance asked for permission to use this painting in their January 2023 newsletter! myemail.constantcont...

A picture of a simplified flat green leaf, with a black outline and details picked out in red, painted on a white background.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

In 2023 I painted a wheat stem rust teleutosorus (pustule). My painting won the ‘Magnified’ section of the 2023 @plantpathgrads Art competition tinyurl.com/yjfhc7cn and @YOGESHD23825337 made my painting into a cake tinyurl.com/5n726ta6 www.hgpenningtonart....

The painting shows a teleutosorus (or sori) on a wheat stem. A chain of ruptured epidermal cells visible on either side of the teleutospores. Below the teleutospores, there is a mass of hyphae amongst the host cells.

A vascular bundle is present to the left of the fungal lesion. It looks a bit like a smiley face, with the metaxylem forming the eyes, and the protoxylem forming the nose and smiling mouth.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. Kumamon, the Kumamoto bear mascot hgpenningtonart.com/...

Kumamon, the Kumamoto bear mascot, draw in in biro on white paper

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I painted symptoms of the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis on banana roots. hgpenningtonart.com/...

The painting shows five longitudinal sections of banana roots, progressing from healthy to heavily infected, along with one transverse (cross) section. The increasing number and spread of necrotic lesions are represented in dark brown ink, and there are progressively fewer lateral roots as the infection advances.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

In 2022 I painted tar spot on sycamore, caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum. www.hgpenningtonart....

A picture of a simplified flat green leaf, with a black outline. There are black, tar-like spots on the surface, each surrounded by a thin outline of yellow chlorosis.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

I painted daisy rust, caused by Puccinia distincta, for the July illustration of the @BSPP 2024 plant pathogens calendar. bspp.org.uk/product/... hgpenningtonart.com/...

The painting shows a lawn daisy infected with Puccinia distincta. The daisy has three flower stems topped by small white flowers, and 12 leaves. There are yellow chlorotic regions on the leaves and stems, and small orange pustules. Infected leaves appear pale, stand more erect, and have rust blisters with cluster-cups (aecium/aecia) on both surfaces.

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@hgpennington @hgpennington.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

In 2024 I challenged myself to complete one drawing each day whilst on holiday in Japan. toad lily hgpenningtonart.com/...

A pink toad lily (Tricyrtis sp.) in Shin-En Hana Garden, Japan

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