Floral art helped break down gender barriers in science

The contributions of two female botanical artists to science and conservation have been recognised as part of an effort to highlight women's role in science.

Marian Ellis Rowan (1848-1922) and Vera Scarth-Johnson (1912-1999) painted flora from the remote Endeavour River region near Cooktown in north Queensland.

Both women faced gendered barriers in their work, with botanical art and science in the 18th and 19th centuries a male-dominated field.

They each worked hard to fight against societal norms, but also used their privileged social status to achieve success.

Their stories have been explored as part of a history PhD undertaken by James Cook University researcher Janine Evans.

Though not an artist herself, Ms Evans is a keen gardener and was struck by the beauty of the floral paintings by Ms Scarth-Johnson held at Nature's Powerhouse in Cooktown.

"I wanted to highlight the gendered history of botanical science ... women were able to get involved in science through botany because it wasn't considered one of the 'hard' sciences," Ms Evans told AAP.

"It was seen as almost a leisurely pursuit when women did it, but it was actually very hard work!

"Both Ellis Rowan and Scarth-Johnson battled the heat and harsh environment to capture the flora of remote Australia."

The women's contributions built on the work of some of the world's most influential botanists and botanical artists, who were also captivated by the plants of the Endeavour River region.

"Ellis Rowan was famous for her botanical art ... she competed in international exhibitions, even beating the premier male artists of the country (which) was a big controversy in the newspapers of the day," Ms Evans said.

"But despite discovering new species, Ellis still didn't get to name the plants, so there remained a gendered barrier for these artists."

Ms Scarth-Johnson was also a passionate advocate for the natural environment and used her art to support her environmental campaigns.

In 1996, she was awarded a prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her contributions to art and conservation.

"The Endeavour River region is one of the most unique places in the world," Ms Evans said.

"The work of these artists provides a baseline of how ecosystems are changing, which is really important for protecting biodiversity."