Alfred Parsons

Born in Somerset in 1847, he became known as an English illustrator, landscape painter, and garden designer. After studying art in London, he built a career that crossed several fields, exhibiting his paintings while also producing detailed botanical and landscape illustrations.

He is especially remembered for work connected with gardening and nature writing, including collaborations with the influential gardener William Robinson. That mix of artistic skill and horticultural knowledge made him a distinctive figure: someone who did not just paint gardens, but also helped imagine and design them.

Parsons was elected a Royal Academician and remained active into the early 20th century. He died in 1920, leaving behind a reputation for graceful landscapes, careful plant studies, and a lasting link between British art and garden culture.