Plants, Panels and Passion

RHS Portfolio celebrates plant photography beyond the creation of a single image.  It showcases projects and image series that explore plants, gardens and gardeners and which tell a story or draw attention to something interesting or unique.

Paul Mitchell FRPS, Gold Medal winner and Best in Show 2022 will join the conversation and talk about his winning Panel and his experience entering this prestigious competition with the RHS.

Inclusive of all photographic practices from heritage to digital, from macro to garden vistas, RHS Portfolio is an opportunity for professional and enthusiast photographers alike to flex creative muscles and show their skills in both photographic execution and creative vision.

About the Competition

The RHS Portfolio Photography Competition dates back to 1913 when medals (like those awarded to gardens at Chelsea Flower Show) were first awarded for photography of plants and gardens.  Today, the competition is a vibrant celebration of plants, gardens and gardeners through the lens of professional and amateur photographers alike. In 2022 the shortlisted Portfolios were exhibited at Saatchi Gallery for the second time and we expect to open entries for 2023 in January of that year, with a closing date of 1st of March – details will be placed on the RHS website when available. 

Gold Medal Winning Portfolio and Best in Show “ by Paul Mitchell FRPS.

Two of Paul’s images from his Panel are shown below.

About the Speakers

Helen Fickling, is a renowned photographer, who has earned herself considerable respect and recognition amongst industry professionals and private clients. 

With more than 25 years of published and exhibited work to her credit, her images regularly feature in lifestyle, interiors and architectural publications, worldwide.

Born in Rhodesia, her love of photography started at an early age. Helen’s father, (a keen photographer himself), set up a tiny B&W darkroom at home where they dabbled into developing and printing all their photographs for hours on end. "I was hooked and knew this was what I wanted to do,” she explains. 

At 17, she convinced a small photographic studio to employ her as an apprentice so she could also studying for a City and Guild’s photography certificate.

Once qualified, Helen went on to work for a number of prominent advertising photographers, shooting campaigns for agencies such as BBDO, Saatchi, Ogilvy & Mather and JWT, in Africa.

With her knowledge, visual perception and positive attitude, Helen is a tenacious team player whose is able to look at her subject and drawn the very best elements from it. Her approach is both refreshing and energetic and is synonymous with many of the world most prominent landscape designers, architects and interior designers whom she now works with. 

Helen lives and works in London and travels worldwide on assignments that take her all corners of the globe.

Siân Tyrrell LMPA runs the Portfolio Photography Competition for the RHS, managing the entries, judging and exhibition as part of her wider role in RHS Science & Collections.  She is herself a photographer, though not of plants, a fact which allows her to maintain an impartial passion for the competition.

Paul Mitchell FRPS was born in East Yorkshire, Paul's interest for photography began at school. He then studied graphic design at art college and soon after began his design career in London working for many well known FMCG companies and brands. He now lives in East Dorset as a professional landscape photographer and specialist book designer.

Paul has had numerous exhibitions in London and the South East and has had articles and images published in many photographic magazines. He is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and is the current Chair of the Visual Art Distinctions panel. He also serves on the Landscape Distinctions Panel. A member of the prestigious Arena group of photographers and a founder member of The Landscape Collective UK (LCUK). Paul is also a well respected photographic judge and lecturer.