Anna Atkins

Anna Atkins was a pioneering British botanist and photographer, widely recognised as one of the first female photographers and the first person to illustrate a book with photographic images.

Born in Tonbridge, Kent in 1799, Atkins was raised by her father and well-respected scientist John George Children. His pursuits profoundly shaped her interests, introducing her to a world of scientific inquiry and natural history at a time when women had limited access to the field.

Atkins became an accomplished illustrator in her early years, producing detailed drawings of shell specimens. She developed a particular interest in botany, learning from her father and his scientific circles. Among those who influenced her was Sir William Hooker, a prominent botanist and the first director of the Royal Gardens at Kew.

In 1825, she married John Pelly Atkins — a merchant of London West India and railway promoter — and settled at Halstead Place in Kent. Here, she had the time and resources to fully devote herself to her interests, and later joined the London Botanical Society in 1839.

In the same year, photography was introduced in Britain by William Henry Fox Talbot, who happened to be a family friend. Atkins was given a camera and learned first-hand from Talbot about this emerging invention, practising and experimenting with the new techniques.

It was the cyanotype process, however, that truly captivated her. This camera-less photographic printing process uses iron salts to produce distinctive monochrome images in Prussian blue. Atkins was introduced to the technique by its inventor, Sir John Herschel. She recognised its potential for botanical study, using the technique to capture the intricate forms of delicate specimens in remarkable details.

Her most celebrated work is Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions (1843–1853). Comprising three volumes and more than 400 cyanotype plates, the book documented British algae and seaweeds from the Victorian era, marking a significant advance in scientific documentation. Only 17 copies of British Algae are known to exist. A copy formerly owned by the scientist Robert Hunt was sold by Christie’s for £229,250 in 2004.

Atkins died in 1871, aged 72. Today, the artist remains celebrated for her landmark contributions to photography and botanical illustration.