Marjorie Blamey (1919–2019)

Marjorie Blamey, née Day, was born in Talawakelle, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to British parents. Her father Arthur Day worked in Sri Lanka as a doctor and her mother Janette Newton-Baker was a nurse. In 1921, the family returned to the UK and settled in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. Marjorie and her brother enjoyed a largely outdoor life, developing a deep love of nature. In 1934, she won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and after graduation won roles in films at Elstree
Studios. She also took up photography, winning competitions and exhibiting at the London Salon of Photography. In 1941, while working as a nurse and ambulance driver in Epsom during World War II, she met her future husband Philip Blamey, an army officer. After a whirlwind romance, they married and later had four children. After her husband was demobilized in 1946, the family moved to a dairy farm in Cornwall. Marjorie continued to take on private photographic work and began painting the flowers around their land. Her work was spotted at a local art exhibition by botanist looking for an illustrator for his book, and Marjorie quickly started work on her first professional commissions. These included a book on magnolias by horticulturist Neil Treseder and Wildflowers of Britain and Ireland from the Collins Pocket Guide series. The latter marked the start of a long-term collaboration with naturalist and author Richard Fitter and botanist Dr. Christopher Grey-Wilson. Botanists started to send samples from around the world for illustration that were stored around the family farmhouse, including in the fridge and the bath.
Marjorie eventually sold more than a million copies of her wildflower reference books in many languages around the world. In recognition of her work, she was awarded an MBE, three gold medals from the Royal Horticultural Society, and two from the Alpine Garden Society. She also became a founder member of Plantlife International, the charity that promotes the preservation of wild plants.