Vriesea sceptrum (bromeliad plant)

Margaret Ursula Mee: A Life Dedicated to Art and Conservation

Early Life and Education

• Margaret Ursula Brown (later Mee) was born on May 22, 1909, in Whitehill, United Kingdom.
• She attended Dr Challoner's Grammar School, Amersham, followed by The School of Art, Science and Commerce, Watford.
• Early political awareness developed during her time in Berlin in 1933 witnessing the rise of Nazism.
• During World War II, she worked as a draughtswoman at the de Havilland aircraft factory.
• Post-war, she studied art at St Martin's School of Art and Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, receiving a national diploma in painting and design in 1950.

Move to Brazil and Botanical Beginnings

• In 1952, Mee moved to São Paulo, Brazil, to teach art at the British School.
• She began her career as a botanical artist for São Paulo's Instituto de Botanica in 1958.
• From 1964 onwards, she extensively explored the Amazonas state, documenting its unique plant life.
• Her expeditions resulted in an impressive collection of over 400 folios of gouache illustrations, alongside numerous sketchbooks and diaries.

Artistic Style and Influences

• Mee’s artistic style is characterized by meticulous detail and vibrant color, particularly evident in her gouache paintings.
• Her work blends scientific accuracy with artistic expression, capturing the beauty and complexity of Amazonian flora.
• While not explicitly tied to a specific art movement, her detailed botanical illustrations align with traditions of scientific illustration and natural history painting.
• She was driven by a deep passion for documenting plants, some previously unknown to science.

Major Achievements and Publications

• Published Flowers of the Brazilian Forests in 1968, showcasing her early Amazonian work.
• Her illustrations gained international recognition through exhibitions in Washington D.C. and London.
• She actively campaigned against deforestation and large-scale mining in the Amazon region, raising awareness globally.
• Published In Search of Flowers of the Amazon Forests in 1988, shortly before her death.

Recognition and Legacy

• Awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1976 for services to Brazilian botany.
• Became a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1986.
• Received honorary citizenship of Rio de Janeiro in 1975 and the Brazilian Order of Cruzeiro do Sul in 1979.
• The Margaret Mee Amazon Trust was founded posthumously to support research and conservation efforts, though it later closed.
• Recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with inclusion in its Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1990.
• Her illustrations are now largely held within the Kew Gardens collection.

Historical Significance

• Margaret Ursula Mee was a pioneering figure who combined artistic talent with environmental activism.
• She played a crucial role in bringing attention to the ecological importance of the Amazon rainforest and the threats it faced.
• Her detailed botanical illustrations serve as valuable scientific records and enduring works of art, inspiring generations of artists and conservationists.