A new book by visual research artist and University of Cambridge visiting tutor Nabil Ali, Gold From Newton's Apple Tree: Historical Recipes for Natural Inks, Paints, and Dyes, has just been released, inviting readers on an immersive, alchemical journey into the world of organic colour.
Drawing on decades of experimentation and collaboration, from impressive installations at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden to advisory work with conservation scientists, Ali offers an exquisitely illustrated study of plant‑based pigments. The book blends historical insight with hands‑on craft, tracing colour‑making traditions from ancient technical manuscripts of the 3rd century BCE through the medieval period, the Renaissance, and into contemporary practice.
Among the many recipes is one derived from the bark of a descendant of Sir Isaac Newton’s famous apple tree, which was once a resident in the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens.
Scientists at the Botanic Garden took a scion from Isaac Newton’s original apple tree at Woolsthorpe Manor and grafted it onto new rootstock, planting the young tree in the Gardens in 1954. In 2022, after nearly seven decades, the tree succumbed to honey fungus and was felled by Storm Eunice. Its story, however, did not end there. Artist Ali gave the tree a remarkable afterlife by exploring the hidden colour within its bark, extracting pigment and transforming it into a striking yellow‑gold ink he named ‘Newton’s Gold’. This ink became the heart of an art installation, The Tree That Once Was, made up of 68 apples, one for every year of the tree’s life. The Trust is delighted to have been gifted one of these apples as part of the celebration of the ongoing work at the Botanic Garden.
The sense of wonder behind this transformation inspired the book’s title, Gold from Newton’s Apple Tree.
Each chapter interweaves historical knowledge with Ali’s own methods, presenting unique adaptations of medieval craft techniques. His inspiration, he explains, began with “connecting with nature by producing colourants from the plants growing in my first herb garden,” a process that ultimately shaped the framework he now shares with others.
Reflecting on the writing process, Ali acknowledges both its challenges and rewards. “There were challenging moments writing the book, as many authors will confess, but I persevered and focused on making each chapter interesting for the reader. The topic is vast, and I only capture a small part of the subject matter while including my own experiences over a period of three decades. I do like exploring and finding new information through research, learning about the plants, manuscripts, and recipes that inform how to make colours. The plants dictated the direction that some of the narrative took, leading to stories within stories.”
The book launched earlier this month, and readers will have the chance to hear directly from the author at a lunchtime talk at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, on 28 May 2026. With this publication, Ali opens a new window onto the art and science of natural colour, while providing a beautiful reminder of how deeply creativity is rooted in the natural world.
