Ruskin wrote of flowers ‘it is difficult to give them the accuracy of attention necessary to see their beauty without drawing them’. If you love flowers then through botanical illustration you start to observe their beauty even better.

Some members have said ‘you are teaching me to look’ and good observation is the key to Botanical Illustration.

This is probably the primary difference between Flower Painting and Botanical Illustration: detail matters. Botanical Illustration is broader than detailed flower painting, it covers anything from the world of botany, not just flowers, but also fruits, seed heads and even fungi.

This is quite a specific art form owing to its concentration on botanical detail, but a relaxing and enjoyable one.

During the year we work through the four conventional media for Botanical Illustration: graphite pencil, pen & ink, coloured pencil and finally water colour.

Each year the course follows the same pattern to enable new members to fit in easily; however the topics are sufficiently broad for continuing members not to be working on the same species each year unless they so wish.

We share information about books, courses and exhibitions covering any aspect of Botanical Illustration.

There is always lots of chatter and interaction between members since looking at one another’s work is part of the learning exercise.

For reasons of confidentiality the contact details of our group leaders are not listed here. Please register your interest with the Group Co-ordinator via the Contact Page. The Group Coordinator will be in touch with you.