Margaret Dickinson

Margaret Rebecca Dickinson gathered a collection of over 1,000 British plants in her unique herbarium, going on to create many beautiful pieces of detailed and delicate artwork from her specimens.  

While photography was still in its infancy, the drawing and painting of plants for identification was considered a fitting activity for Victorian women. During her lifetime, Dickinson was considered a hobbyist, rather than a botanist, and so her work was largely unrecognised by scientists. She captured specimens, such as Corncockle, that are now believed to be extinct in Northumberland. Additionally, she travelled around the British Isles collecting common and humble, as well as more beautiful and unusual plants. She discovered scarce orchids in Kent and the then rare Rosebay Willowherb at Cirencester. 

Today, her watercolours, which depict 458 wild flowers, are recognised as an outstanding, early contribution to botany. Most of her drawings were completed between 1846 and 1874. She donated her collection of specimens and artwork to the Natural History Society of Northumbria. They are housed at the Great North Museum: Hancock, in Newcastle. 

Born in the city, Margaret was the daughter of tobacco manufacturer William Ogle Dickinson. She settled at Tweed Villa, in Norham on Tweed, Northumberland, with her family in 1868 and continued to live there until her death.  

She became an honorary member of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club in 1872 and exhibited her work before club meetings in Berwick to much local acclaim. Her Album of 30 Narcissus Drawings is now in the prestigious Lindley Library Collections of the Royal Horticultural Society, an endorsement of the artistic merit of her paintings.

Entry written by Maggie Davison.