BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATIONS
This project was commissioned for Dimple Lodge, Shimla, a heritage property that is nearly 180 years old, tucked into the hills of Himachal Pradesh. The brief was to create a collection of original watercolour artworks inspired by the flora and fauna surrounding the lodge, with exclusive usage rights for their website. The goal was to translate the natural environment into something that felt quiet, immersive, and genuinely rooted in that place.
The Approach
I didn't want to illustrate the property itself. That felt too literal for what this place deserved. Instead, I approached the landscape as a living ecosystem and spent time thinking about what actually exists there, the trees, the seasonal flowers, the wildlife passing through. The artworks grew from that observation, each element finding its place organically rather than being arranged. The intention was for them to feel unforced and timeless, much like the property itself.
What Appears in the Work
The botanicals in this series reflect the real diversity around the lodge. Salvia, hydrangeas, poppies, pansies, daisies, lilies, cosmos, and dahlias are painted in layered washes with careful detailing. Apple, peach, plum, and deodar trees appear throughout, forming a quiet but defining presence that is very specific to this region of Himachal.
Wildlife moves through the compositions gently, never taking over the frame. A leopard, barking deer, red jungle fowl, and birds like the flycatcher, red billed blue magpie, and Blue Whistling Thrush are woven in alongside the soft drift of butterflies. Together they create a sense of stillness and close, unhurried observation.
The Footer Artwork
The website footer was its own composition. Deodar trees rise in the background, painted in layered greens that form a rhythmic forest line. In the foreground, salvia blooms repeat in vertical patterns, adding warmth and contrast. Hydrangeas soften the overall texture without interrupting the flow.
The piece was designed to sit quietly at the base of the website rather than demand attention. It grounds the page, and hopefully gives the feeling of looking out at the surroundings from inside the lodge itself.
How It Was Made
All the artworks were built gradually in watercolour on paper, through layering and careful detailing. Each piece was also thoughtfully adapted for digital use so it kept its hand painted quality while fitting naturally into the website layout.
Artwork Details
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Type: Exclusive commissioned artworks
Usage: Website visuals and custom footer artwork with exclusive rights
Theme: Regional Flora, Native Wildlife, Quiet Observation, Sense of Place
