LONDON, ENGLAND.-Nigel Chapman has taken top honours in this year's RHS Photographic Competition. The Hampshire-based photographer’s striking images of Sorbus aucuparia (rowan or mountain ash) and Strongylodon macrobotrys (jade vine) were selected from almost 4,000 entries, from across the UK and around the world in the annual contest organised by the UK’s leading gardening charity and supported by fine art publisher The Medici Society Ltd.

It took the panel of judges two days to decide on the 21 winning photographs in the seven competition categories. Ian Hodgson, one of the competition judges and editor of The Garden, described the calibre of the images in the Plant Portrait, Close-up and Tree and Shrub categories as breathtaking.

Ian Hodgson said, “The best entries made a strong emotional impact. We were looking for something that surprises, a hidden depth, as well as a good composition, lighting and print quality. Nigel’s winning images capture all of these things.” Nigel was named RHS Photographer of the Year, winning first prize in the Tree or Shrub Category, and second prize in Plant Portrait.