Brief Profile

After completing a graphic art course at RMIT in 1977, Anita Barley was appointed as the first botanical artist of the National Herbarium of Victoria (Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne). Between 1977 and 1992 she produced hundreds of drawings and paintings for scientific botanical publications, including all illustrations in the Flora of Victoria, and numerous illustrations for the Flora of Australia and other scientific works.

Anita Barley was a co-recipient of the inaugural Celia Rosser Medal in 2002, in recognition of the quality of her botanical artwork, and for her sustained contributions to the field of botanical illustrations.

Anita Barley’s work has been exhibited in numerous galleries, and many of her significant works are held in the State Botanical Collection (RBG Melbourne). Most recently Anita’s work has been exhibited at the Red Box Gallery (RBG Sydney) and Campaspe House in Woodend.