On 2 October 2026, the iconic Palm Houses at The Royal Botanic Gardens were reopened for the first time after a four year restoration that began in 2022. I visited to search for artistic inspiration — here’s what I found.
The greenhouse was comfortingly warm, despite the autumn day outside, and my inner child longed to draw in the condensation that gathered on the fresh glass. It was an incredibly peaceful environment that I would recommend to anyone who wants to get their creative juices flowing, and is only £1 entry with a Young Scot card!
Armed with a sketchbook, camera and journal, I was immediately struck by the harsh white lines of the Victorian metalwork against the lush green of the plants. The juxtaposition made for incredible photographs, and I can picture great colour studies and mark making experiments, capturing the soft plants and the clean architecture. I wanted to trace the outline of the exotic leaves and take cuttings to turn my flat into a rainforest, but I resisted.
The whole space was brimming with history and signs around the Palm Houses were super informative, leaving me environmentally inspired with a deeper sense of awe for mother nature, feelings that make great art.
Walking amongst giant palm trees and delicately flowering shrubs filled me with inspiration. I longed to make giant, textural weavings and practice botanical drawing. I wanted to become a fashion designer just so I could organise a show there, models floating around the looping, hexagonal paths. I took film photos of the green leaves against the white metalwork and I now want to wear more green and white clothes. I was inspired to do more for the environment after reading about the effects of climate change on these endangered species. I went out and bought more houseplants, and I drew still lifes from them back at my flat.
If you’re feeling a little stuck, take a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens and sit in the Palm Houses. Whether you’re a visual artist, musician, writer, or just need to relax, this space has a very specific vibe that lets you forget about the world for a bit, and you feel a little more ready to tackle it when you leave.
Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash
