Dr. Shirley Sherwood is a collector of, and author of books about, botanical illustrations. The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, opened on 19 April 2008, at Kew Gardens houses her collection, and is named after her. She has been described as "the driving force behind a revival of interest in botanical art".
She is a Vice-President of the Nature in Art Trust. Her husband is railway and shipping magnate James B. Sherwood, who featured in the 2004 Sunday Times Rich List.