Lewis Roberts Orchids

Lewis Roberts, Biography

(Photo © Jeff Wright 2004)

Orchids of far north-eastern Queensland, the work of Lewis Roberts.

LEWIS ROBERTS (born 1950) is a third generation resident of Shipton’s Flat, which is approximately 45 km south of Cooktown at the foot of Mt. Finnegan. He is a distinguished naturalist, as his brother, Charlie, and as was their late father, Jack. Lewis and Charlie Roberts probably know the south-eastern part of Cape York Peninsula and the northern Wet Tropics area – their country – better than anybody.

Since about 1960, most of the botanists and zoologists who have conducted research in their area have sought advice or field assistance from the Roberts Brothers. Both are Honoraries to the Queensland Museum.

Lewis Roberts has an ultra-special interest in orchids, particularly the species of Cape York Peninsula and the Wet tropics. He commenced serious study in 1973.

Since then, he has collected many specimens, including an unusual species known only at Shipton’s Flat, for the National Herbarium (Canberra). This species, named Cooktown robertsii in his honour, was described in 1997 by one of Australia’s leading orchid taxonomists, David Jones.

In 1993, Lewis began to draw the orchids he found. His early works were in pencil and done purely as an aid to identification. He showed some to visiting fellow naturalists, and prompted by them, Lewis progressed to colouring and highlighting his illustrations. With watercolours he could better convey the beauty, delicacy and intricacy of the orchids he found.

Lewis intends to illustrate a specimen of every orchid from north-eastern Queensland. To date he has completed about one third of the species known from the area. Once he completes the series, Lewis hopes to publish them, along with his field observations on each species. This is a labour of love. It will take many more years to illustrate them all.

LEWIS’ TECHNIQUE
Lewis Roberts is a self-taught botanical illustrator. He has devised his own technique to capture the scale and complexity of his subject, many of which are minute as you can see.

First, Lewis must find his subject. Most orchids flower seasonally, some for only one or two days a year! Many of the species of north-eastern Queensland have very restricted ranges and occur only in remote, inaccessible places – mountain peaks, swamps or rainforest accessible only on foot.

Following the conventions of botanical illustration, the artist records his subjects comprehensively – plant, flower and fruit. He also dissects the flowers of each to show its various parts – petals, sepal, column, labellum, anther and pollenarium.

Lewis works in pencil to outline his subject using a magnifying glass if necessary. He captures the colour of the subject in watercolour, then highlights and shades with pen and ink.

The process is exacting and time consuming. Not allowing for time taken to find suitable specimens of particular species – some take years – each illustration takes between 2 and 3 days to complete, depending on complexity.

High Quality A3 prints of Lewis Robert's beautiful, detailed illustrations are available at $65 each or in Folios of 3 or more. Please contact Natures PowerHouse for more information.

Orchids of far north-eastern Queensland, the work of Lewis Roberts.