Alister Mathews BSc. has a degree in Botany and only started painting later in life after a career in teaching.  Completely self taught to draw accurately and paint in watercolours.  Entered first ever exhibition which was with The Society of Botanical Artists and was offered membership.  Exhibited with them annually for 38 years, and became at one time Vice President and appears in all their books.  Her paintings are in the permanent collections of The National Museum of Wales, The Hunt Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA,  The Shirley Sherwood Collection and The Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society.