Botanical Art & Botanical Illustrations
Botanical Art
THE ENDEMIC BEAUTY OF
Sri Lanka
Scientifically accurate, Artistically refined, Original botanical paintings that celebrate the rare and extraordinary flora of one of the world's biodiversity hotspots.
Original Botanical Art
Original botanical artworks inspired by the extraordinary flora and biodiversity of Sri Lanka, alongside a collection of premium T-shirts featuring Maria Abeyesekere’s botanical artwork.
Each botanical painting is created with careful attention to natural form, detail, and scientific accuracy, while the T-shirt collection transforms selected artworks into wearable pieces of fine art for nature lovers, art collectors, and those who appreciate distinctive design.
Original botanical art. Premium wearable art. Inspired by nature.
Where Science Meets Fine Art
Each painting is the result of extensive research, careful observation and a deep respect for nature. Every detail - from root to petal - is rendered with botanical accuracy and artistic sensitivity.
Discover a collection of original botanical paintings that celebrate one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots. Each artwork is created with scientific accuracy while embracing the elegance and refinement of contemporary fine art, preserving the beauty of rare and endemic plant species for generations to come.
From delicate orchids hidden within Sri Lanka's rainforests to remarkable native flowering plants found nowhere else on Earth, every painting is a tribute to nature, conservation, and artistic excellence..
Maria Abeyesekere is an internationally recognised Sri Lankan artist with more than 35 years of professional experience. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in private collections across the United States, Europe especially the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. In recognition of her contribution to botanical art, Maria was invited by the Indian Organising Committee to represent Sri Lanka at Botanical Art Worldwide 2025.
Although best known for her highly detailed portraiture and figurative paintings, Maria's home in one of Sri Lanka's remarkable biodiversity hotspots has inspired a parallel body of botanical work. Living among rare and endemic plant species, she has developed a deep appreciation for the island's extraordinary natural heritage and the importance of preserving it.
Through museum-quality botanical paintings that combine scientific accuracy with refined artistic craftsmanship, Maria hopes to contribute to the documentation and appreciation of Sri Lanka's unique flora. By recording rare and endemic species through original fine art, she seeks to support botanical knowledge, conservation awareness, and the enduring relationship between art and science.
Botanical Art T-Shirt Collection
Nature’s Bounty
Celebrating the gifts of nature through wearable art.
A distinctive collection of T-shirts featuring Maria Abeyesekere’s original botanical illustrations, inspired by the rich flora and natural heritage of Sri Lanka. Each design brings the beauty, character and story of nature into an elegant piece of everyday art.
Wear nature. Celebrate its beauty. Help keep it alive.
The Botanical Blooms Collection celebrates the timeless beauty of flowers through original botanical artwork by Maria Abeyesekere. Inspired by the delicate forms, vibrant colours, and intricate details of nature, each design transforms the beauty of flowers into elegant wearable art.
Printed on premium-quality T-shirts, the collection brings fine botanical art into everyday life—created for those who appreciate flowers, art, and distinctive style.
Original Floral Art • Premium Quality • Nature Inspired • Wearable Art
Available Original Botanical Art
Crop Diversity Collection
The Crop Diversity Collection celebrates the remarkable beauty and importance of cultivated plants that have sustained communities for generations. Featuring carefully observed botanical paintings of fruits, vegetables, spices, grains, and other agricultural crops, this collection highlights the diversity of plants that contribute to food security, cultural heritage, and sustainable agriculture.
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100% cotton archival paper
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Certificate of Authenticity
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Artist's signature
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Scientific name and common name
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Collection catalogue describing each species
The original botanical artwork is supplied mounted with free Shipping Worldwide.
If you require museum-quality framing, please contact us for a quotation for professional framing and delivery charges.
Botanical Commission Availability
Maria accepts only a limited number of botanical commissions each year. As every botanical illustration is created from direct observation of the living specimen to ensure scientific accuracy and artistic authenticity, sufficient time is required for research, observation, and painting. Clients are kindly requested to enquire at least three months in advance to discuss their project and secure a place in her commission schedule.
Premium Collector Price Guide (MuseumQuality, Framed)
Prices given are in US$ / Acrylic on Archival Paper
Size Individual Set of 4 Set of 6 Set of 12
A4 1,800–2,500 8,000–9,000 12,000–13,500 24,000–27,000
A3 2,500–3,500 11,500–12,500 18,000–20,000 36,000–42,000
A2 4,500–6,000 20,000–23,000 31,000–35,000 62,000–72,000
A1 8,500–12,000 38,000–45,000 58,000–68,000 115,000–135,000
Original Botanical Collections
Maria's botanical collections include:
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Endemic Sri Lankan Orchids
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Rare Native Flowering Plants
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Tropical Flora
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Medicinal Plants
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Rainforest Species
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Conservation-Inspired Botanical Collections
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Custom Botanical Commissions
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions by Maria Abeyesekere
Welcome to my FAQ. Here I answer some of the questions I most often receive about my artwork, commissions, artistic process, and collecting original art.
Scientifically Accurate Botanical Art
What is scientifically accurate botanical art?
Scientifically accurate botanical art combines artistic skill with close observation and accurate representation of botanical subjects.
The objective is not simply to create a beautiful flower painting, but to faithfully represent the plant's important visual characteristics, including its structure, form, proportions, colours, leaves, flowers, fruits, and other identifying features.
How do you create your botanical paintings?
I usually create my botanical paintings through direct observation of the plant itself. Being able to study a living botanical subject allows me to closely observe its structure, form, colour, texture, growth patterns, and finer details.
When a particular botanical subject requested by a collector cannot be found in Sri Lanka, I use carefully selected reference material to study and accurately represent the species.
Direct observation is my preferred approach because it allows me to engage with the living subject rather than relying solely on an existing image.
Do you work from living plants or photographs?
My preferred method is to work from living plants through direct observation whenever the subject is available to me.
If a requested botanical subject cannot be found in Sri Lanka, I may work from carefully selected photographic or other reliable references. In these cases, I research and study the subject closely to ensure that its important botanical characteristics are represented as accurately as possible.
How is your botanical art different from decorative floral painting?
Decorative floral painting often focuses primarily on atmosphere, beauty, colour, and artistic interpretation.
Scientifically accurate botanical art places greater emphasis on observation, botanical structure, proportion, and fidelity to the subject while still allowing the artwork to possess a distinctive artistic character.
My botanical paintings aim to bring together scientific observation, botanical accuracy, and fine-art aesthetics.
Can I commission a specific plant or flower?
Yes. A particular botanical subject can be considered for a commissioned artwork.
If the requested plant is available in Sri Lanka, I prefer to study and paint it through direct observation. If it cannot be found locally, suitable reference material can be used to enable me to study the species and create the artwork as accurately as possible.
Can botanical artwork be scientifically accurate and still work as fine art?
Absolutely.
Scientific accuracy does not have to mean that an artwork feels clinical or purely instructional. Careful observation can coexist with sophisticated composition, beautiful light, subtle colour, texture, and contemporary artistic interpretation.
My aim is to create botanical paintings that are botanically accurate while remaining compelling and refined works of fine art.
Do you paint botanical subjects native to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka's extraordinary plant diversity provides an important source of inspiration for my work.
Whenever possible, I prefer to observe botanical subjects in their natural or living state. This allows me to study details that may not always be apparent in photographs, including the way a plant grows, the relationship between its different parts, and subtle variations in colour and texture.
Why is direct observation important to your botanical art?
Direct observation allows me to experience the plant as a living subject rather than simply reproducing an image.
It gives me the opportunity to examine details from different angles and to understand the plant's structure, proportions, textures, and natural characteristics more fully.
For me, this close relationship with the subject is an important part of creating botanical art that is both accurate and artistically expressive.
Large-Scale Floral Oil Paintings
Maria Abeyesekere's large-scale floral paintings transform the delicate beauty of flowers into striking contemporary works of art. Painted in oils with exceptional attention to detail, each composition magnifies the intricate forms, textures, and flowing movement of petals, inviting viewers to experience nature from an intimate and immersive perspective.
Rather than serving as decorative floral studies, these paintings celebrate the sculptural elegance and emotional presence of each bloom. Dramatic lighting, rich colour harmonies, and carefully observed botanical forms create works that are both visually powerful and timeless, making them ideal statement pieces for luxury residences, hotels, corporate spaces, and distinguished private collections.
Working with archival, museum-quality materials, Maria builds each painting through multiple layers of oil paint to achieve remarkable depth, luminosity, and realism. Her signature approach combines technical precision with artistic sensitivity, allowing every flower to convey both botanical beauty and expressive character.
Inspired by nature and informed by over 35 years of professional experience, these large-scale floral paintings bridge the worlds of fine art and botanical observation. Each original work is created to be enjoyed for generations, offering collectors a sophisticated interpretation of nature that complements both contemporary and classic interiors.
Whether featuring a single monumental bloom or an elegant floral composition, every painting reflects Maria's commitment to craftsmanship, authenticity, and the enduring beauty of the natural world.
