​Find the names of experienced Botanical Artists who teach across the world
​
​Find Instructors and Tutors providing tuition in botanical art and illustration
EITHER willing to travel to teach OR based near you

NOTE: This page is currently being updated

Directory of Teachers, Tutors and Instructors in Botanical Art & Illustration
​

ON THIS PAGE you can find
  • the names of of botanical art teachers / tutors / instructors in the UK, Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, Australasia, South America
  • how these listings - by location - are compiled 
  • how to get listed as a tutor (or get yourself added to the international tutors list)
  • how to recommend a tutor​
This page is ordered as follows

LISTINGS OF TEACHERS WHO TRAVEL TO INSTRUCT STUDENTS
​The names of botanical art teachers / tutors / instructors categorised by:
  • International Teachers - experienced in developing / delivering workshops/classes outside their own country
  • Peripatetic Botanical Art Tutors in the UK

PLUS LISTINGS OF BOTANICAL ART TEACHERS BY LOCATION in
  • UK - England, Scotland and Wales
  • EUROPE - Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Romania Switzerland and Turkey - and Morocco in North Africa
  • NORTH AMERICA - USA (by state) and Canada - including Online Tuition 
  • AUSTRALASIA (work in progress) - Australia and New Zealand 
  • ASIA (work in progress)- Nepal 

PLUS I am working on developing lists in the future for tutors based in South America, Africa and other countries in Asia
Image: The banner image is of a Botanical Art Class which Fiona Strickland (on extreme left) ran in Falkirk in Scotland. Impressive artwork leads to a lot of very happy students.

​Also on this site
​

International Directory
​of Botanical Art Classes, Courses and Workshops
​
If you are more interested in available courses and workshops SEE individual pages about ​courses held at Botanical Gardens and and/or run by reputable organisers PLUS the pages dedicated to information about
​SEE BELOW for botanical art tutors providing private instruction
The Best Botanical Art Instruction Books
​Find out more by clicking the image below

How are these listings compiled?
​

NOBODY pays to get listed on this site!

The quality of teaching and workshop tends to depend on
the experience, competence and reputation of
(1) the organisations and (2) individual tutors.

My perspective comes from being a qualified teacher with a degree in Education,
who has also assessed, examined, moderated and inspected during the course of my career.
Plus written about painting holidays and what contributes to making them a success (or not!).
I also listen to what people tell me about their experiences - both good and bad.
I've known a number of the teachers listed for some years - this is indicated with *
​
Listing tutors and available tuition is very difficult - when 
  • People teach in different ways.
  • Students have different needs and respond to some styles better than others.
  • Teachers who would be regarded as excellent by some might also be viewed as difficult and too demanding by others. (It often depends on the student's experience rather than the instructor's competence)
  • Good experiences will always depend on getting a good match between what a tutor has to offer - and their style of teaching - and what a student needs and wants. 
HOW I ASSESS TEACHERS/INSTRUCTORS

​This is what I do
  • I focus on presentation and communication by the teacher, quality of their artwork and recognition of quality by independent assessors - and training as a teacher.
  • Review websites and social media for information provided about botanical art courses / tuition on offer.
  • Review how well tutors demonstrate their awareness of students' "need to know" information about courses
  • Review the quantity and quality of content and how this is presented for the benefit of students
  • Read and listen to students talking about their experiences of both courses and tutors
  • Note which botanical art schools, tutors and/or courses regularly get recommended by students and graduates
  • Plus, of course, we can all can tell a lot by how fast courses get booked up by students wanting to repeat purchase!
PLUS: I give credit to those with teaching qualifications and some latitude to those who've recently started to teach in countries with little other expertise
​
Over time I intend to develop ways of signposting
(1) the level of expertise required to get the most benefit from a course
and
(2) the value for money offered by different courses (e.g. what does an hour of tuition cost)

You can HELP ME and fellow students by telling me who you rate as a tutor (see recommendations below)
and which courses you consider offer excellent value for money

Do you provide tuition?
​

If you deliver tuition for botanical artists please ​note I ONLY list 
  • credible botanical artists i.e. I expect to see a portfolio of artwork or have seen work in an exhibition
  • tutors with a website (i.e. which provides details of what they have to offer) and
  • tutors with experience - who have delivered botanical art tuition to an appropriate standard and/or for a prestigious botanical organisation for some time.

In relation to Courses, Classes and Workshops - see International Directory of Botanical Art Classes, Courses and Workshops

​I do NOT list people who deliver COURSES taught in private homes - I only list those who teach in separate designated business premises (this is for insurance reasons plus the fact that not all artists appreciate everything they need to do before they teach at home)

Use the form at the bottom of this page (or my contact form) to tell me about what you do. ​I list information fast if you comply with what I ask for.

Can you recommend a tutor?
​

If you have completed a course of tuition and/or done a workshop with a tutor who you would like to recommend please complete the form at the bottom of this page and let me know 
  1. who the tutor is
  2. what their website address is
  3. where they are located
  4. WHY you are recommending them - please be specific as to how they helped you.
Below you will find quotations from students about the tuition they got from individuals.

Lists of Botanical Art Tutors - by location
​

Listed below are experienced botanical artists providing regular tuition in different locations.
  • ​Listings are limited to artists who have a website providing details of their tuition opportunities. 
  • I limit the list to people with a track record of botanical art tuition
  • The listings are not yet comprehensive - not being on the list does NOT mean a tutor is not good! Use the forms to notify me
  • Listings are updated regularly - but I also need your help and your recommendations

INTERNATIONAL Tutors
​

International Tutors are experienced botanical art tutors
who are willing to travel to different parts of the world
​to deliver workshops, classes or tuition - and have done so.  
This section includes people who have independently organised and developed
  • international workshop programmes and/or
  • deliver workshops in other countries - often by invitation from a national or regional botanical art group/society and/or 
  • private tuition overseas
The list below is organised by country they live in - and places they have travelled to teach are indicated also.
Use the form at the end of this page IF:
  • you have a track record of organising and delivering classes / workshops / holidays outside your home country AND
  • are continuing to do so AND
  • want to be listed in this section
(It currently EXCLUDES those whose workshops are limited to those linked to an exhibition / conference
where organisation and promotion is largely undertaken by the event organisers).
Based in the UK
  • ​Helen Allen FLS BA(Hons) PGCertEd DIP EGS * - Has taught abroad for a number of years and at a number of venues including ASBA Conferences. Currently a member of the RHS Picture Panel. In the past she has taught at Wellesley College, Boston MA and in Transylvania, the Netherlands and Guernsey. Occasional online courses.
  • Ann Marie Evans MA FLS *- highly regarded and still delivering workshops in various countries. She has no website and you won't see adverts for her workshops - except by organisations hosting one. Read two posts about a workshop she ran and an interview with her​
  • Christabel King GM * - Prior to retirement, she was Kew's Chief Botanical Artist having produced botanical illustrations at Kew for Curtis's Botanical Magazine since 1975 and also taught botanical illustration for a long time at Kew prior to retirement. She has also written an instruction book. Now teaches occasional classes and workshops and some are international
  • Sarah Morrish FLS CPGFS ASBA *- a qualified teacher in lifelong learning, Sarah delivers occasional botanical illustration workshops at international events/gatherings of botanical artists
  • ​Elaine Searle BA (Hons.) FLS, ASBA, FSBA *- Has taught over 1,000 students in the last 20 Years+. Former Course Director of the Chelsea School of Botanical Art, now devoting more time to developing an her online course delivery including mentoring.  (see UK entry below). Now teaches online via Zoom Schools and holiday short courses in Italy (annually) and workshops around the world. ​
  • Dianne Sutherland BSc (Hons) Biology, SBA, ASBA, DipSBA(Dist), CBM  * (see UK entry below) - Travels extensively and has been invited to deliver workshops and masterclasses in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia​ and Russia. She specialises in instructing re. working on vellum. She also delivers Online Courses
  • Ann Swan GM SBA * - More than 30 years teaching botanical art using pencils and coloured pencils. She has a wealth of experience in creating art and delivering workshops in the UK and USA; She now delivers
  • Julia Trickey ​GM ASBA * - delivers workshops and classes at international events and in other countries. Has done workshops by invitation in New York and in Moscow in the last two years.

RETIRED?
  • RETIRED? McNeill Botanicals is Fiona Strickland D.A. (Edin) PGSE GM, RSW * and Robert McNeill RSW * Both are well known and highly regarded botanical artists and tutors. They are also both qualified school teachers who taught art for 30+ years prior to retirement. In terms of botanical art, in the past she had delivered masterclasses and workshops overseas, in the USA and Netherlands and have been invited tutors for invited tutors for RBGE, the SBA, the SSBA, the DSBA, BAGSC and the ASBA. NOTE: Scope to become a student is now more limited.
BASED IN USA
  • Lara Gastinger GM ASBA * - has taught a workshop in Transylvania in Romania (2019) and Botanical painting and drawing in the Pyrenees (2022, 2027). She also a Patreon site for online tuition.
  • Denise Walser-Kolar ASBA teaching botanical art since 2006. Awards include the ASBA Diane Bouchier Artist Award for Excellence in Botanical Art and an RHS Silver-Gilt medal Travel teaching at ASBA conferences and throughout the United States since 2009. Started traveling to teach Internationally in 2019 - in Transylvania, at the Vienna Get Together and at Clos Mirabel in France.Upcoming events and classes.  She also teaches online
  • Carol Woodin GM ASBA * - Carol frequently travels to deliver masterclasses, workshops and courses
Based in Canada
  • Margaret Best ASBA BAASA BSoA BAGSA SfiB BAGSC * - graduated as an art teacher. Probably the most travelled of all botanical art teachers. For the last 12+ years, she has taught at botanical gardens, botanical art societies and art schools in UK, France, South Africa, USA, Bermuda and delivered numerous workshops in Italy, Spain, UK and Morocco.  Margaret teaches drawing in graphite and coloured pencil and painting in watercolour; she also offers a private tutoring / mentoring program.
Picture
Elaine Searle with her watercolour painting on vellum of the heritage variety Prunus domestica ‘Kirke’s Blue’ at the Tradescant's Orchard Exhibition at The Garden Museum
I believe people learn best in a safe and supportive environment. I try to take the fear out of the room. I want people to relax and to open their minds to what personally they might achieve. Elaine Searle
Based in Australia
  • Leonie Norton BA, BFA (Hons), Grad (Dip) - A practicing and exhibiting international botanical artist and international botanical art educator. Her qualifications include BA/Visual Arts degree, B.Fine Arts ( BFA Honours) in Plant and Wildlife Illustration, post graduate degree (Grad Dip) in Adult Education (Vocational Education and Training) and Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.  She teaches throughout Australia and internationally plus runs overseas art tours with guided tours to various locations, combined with intensive botanical art tuition.
Margaret's teaching was spot on. She was attentive to each individual student's artistic goals and needs, and though we were not all working in the same medium, she easily switched back and forth between them, giving instruction in technique that was clear and helpful. She is a kind and thoughtful instructor, with an organized, practical way of presenting information about technique. She also has a number of simple, helpful tips - everything from brush recommendations, to "finishing touches", to handouts on paint or pencil colors she uses, their light-fastness, and other reasons she uses them.
Susan Tomlinson RECOMMENDS Margaret Best and has signed up for a second course.
BASED IN EUROPE
Based in Spain 
  • Úrsula Romero BSc (Botany) MSc (botanical taxonomy) FLS * - Úrsula has organised and taught many botanical painting workshops all over the world. She now focuses on capturing the exquisite beauty of flowers and their stories. She delivers workshops and classes in other countries by invitation - often in relation to one of her major projects. In a past life, under another name (Jessica Shepherd) she was  invited by the RHS to demonstrate at the Chelsea Flower Show and Botanical Art Show and delivered talks at the Real Jardín Botánico and other venues.  
Based in France
Based in Ireland
  • Mary Dillon ISBA ASBA - delivers workshops anywhere in the world
  • Shevaun Doherty ISBA PPSBA ASBA * - delivers workshops and classes at events and by invitation outside Ireland
Based in Japan
  • Asuka Hishiki GM - delivers workshops internationally, usually in the USA.
Based in Netherlands
Based in Turkey
  • Işık Güner GM * - an experienced teacher - since 2008. She recently delivered workshops in Barcelona, Morocco and Transylvania. In 2017 she also did an artist residency at the Botanical Gardens in Denver.

Botanical Art Tutors in the UK
​

This listing is becoming comprehensive but is not yet complete. If you think your name should be in this listing please use the form at the bottom of the page.
​
see ​also my page about Online Botanical Art Courses

Online Tuition with UK Based Tutors
​

This listing is limited to people who have proper set-ups for the delivery of Online Tuition - that is NOT limited to students based in the UK i.e. available to international students
  • Jarnie Godwin SBA MTcg, BSc(Hons), DipSBA(Dist) * - delivers online video tutorials
  • Anna Mason SBA - Dedicated Online School which focuses on improving watercolour techniques and uses plants as subject matter. Includes an offer of a FREE class. Taught "thousands of people from 70 countries in the last 7 years"
  • ​​Elaine Searle BA (Hons.) FLS, ASBA, AssocSBA. * Dedicated website pages devoted to online delivery via Zoom Schools. Plus annual Study Breaks in Italy.
  • Billy Showell PPSBA GM I(Biscot) * - Dedicated page for Online Tutorials - Subscription plans for distance learning about painting botanicals in watercolour via online tuition (videos etc) 
  • Ann Swan ​GM SBA *- Dedicated Page for her NEW online tuition NEW Pencil Potential - includes step-by-step instructional videos for both graphite and coloured pencils. Numbers limited to 12 for each workshop. Now teaching via NEW Zoom classes.
  • Julia Trickey ​GM ASBA * - Award-winning artist (4 RHS Gold Medals) - has a basic online site including free tuition
  • Dianne Sutherland ​SBA * - Dedicated Botanical Art Online website. Has provided online tuition since 2009 (including via Skype) inc. watercolour on Vellum. 
PLUS
RETIRED ??
  • RETIRED? Gaynor Dickeson Dip SBA(Dist), FCPGFS, ASBA, SBA * - appears to have given up her online botanical art course
  • Sarah Morrish Bsc. (Hons), RBGE Cert BI (Dist.), ASBA, CPGFS -*  Dedicated tuition website - Illustrating Nature's Details - includes a dedicated page Online Tuition in Drawing Nature (Parts 1, 2 and 3)  Sarah is qualified to teach in lifelong learning (adult art), she is also a very experienced tutor of both botanical and natural history illustration.  (Note: Sarah is focusing more on natural history at present)

Peripatetic Botanical Art Tutors (UK)
​

Picture
Susan Christopher Coulson demonstrating various coloured pencils sets to visitors to RHS Botanical Art 2016.
UK - MULTIPLE / VARIOUS LOCATIONS

​These are tutors who deliver tuition - typically via short courses and workshops - across the UK at various venues. Some also work internationally.
​​
  • Shevaun Doherty GM (Bloom 2014-2018) PPSBA, ISBA * - Based in Ireland and UAE. Vellum Tutor of the Society of Botanical Artists and at various workshops in the UK and abroad.
  • ​Ros Franklin GM FLS, FEPFS * - based in Hampshire and teaches at the Eden Project and for Field Breaks and at RHS Gardens as well as at the studio at her home
  • Leigh Ann Gale SBAF - has taught for a variety of gardens and societies around England and Wales 
  • Bridget Bone Gillespie GM * - based in North Yorkshire, she teaches botanical art across North Yorkshire (including at Helmsley Walled Garden). She has also demonstrated watercolour and composition techniques at the RHS in London and the Diploma Course at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. She lectures in the History of Botanical Illustration. 
  • Sarah Morrish BSc. (Hons), RBGE Cert BI (Dist.), CPGFS * Based in Hampshire and qualified in lifelong learning. She is an experienced tutor of face to face courses, classes and workshops in botanical and natural history illustration 
  • Sally Pinhey FLS Author of The Botanical Illustrator's Handbook. Provides tuition in botanical illustration and botany in the south of England
  • Penny Price - Fully qualified teacher, (Certificate in Education, Durham University 1969). Based in Cambridgeshire. Teaches botanical art for Chelsea School of Botanical Art (since 2014) and provides tuition for short course education programmes of both Kew Botanic Garden and Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
  • Elaine Searle BA (Hons.) FLS, AssocSBA. * - Award-winning artist and former Course Director of the Chelsea School of Botanical Art. She delivers online tuition via Zoom Schools, short break courses in Italy and has taught short courses at a variety of venues around the world for some time.
  • RETIRED? Gael Sellwood GM VPSBA * - based in South West England, she has worked as a worked as a botanical and natural history artist since her mid twenties. She is a qualified teacher of adults for over 20 years who has delivered various workshops around the country - specifically via Cambridge Botanic Garden and Field Breaks. 
  • Billy Showell PPSBA GM (BISCOT 2017) * - Author of very popular instruction books with an extensive online tuition service. She has delivered short courses at various venues around the country in the past eg RHS Wisley. Contact Billy for details. 
  • Ann Swan GM SBA *- Based in Wiltshire. Author of Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils. Delivers short courses in botanical art in coloured pencil and graphite at RHS and Field Breaks venues in the UK. She also has botanical art holidays in Europe
  • Dianne Sutherland BSc (Hons) Biology, SBA, ASBA, DipSBA(Dist), CBM  *- She travels extensively to deliver classes at various UK florilegium and botanical art societies and workshops across the world from New Zealand to the USA. She also has also been delivering her online course since 2012. Specialises in delivering workshops re. working on vellum.
  • Julia Trickey GM ASBA * -  Award-winning artist (4 RHS Gold Medals). Holds a life long learning qualification for adult tuition. Regular 10 week courses and one day workshops available near Bath. Plus Zoom Workshops. Also teaches workshops around the UK and abroad, often by invitation. 
  • Sue Vize SBA - She works full time as a botanical illustrator and tutor - mainly in the north. Author of Botanical Drawing using Graphite and Coloured Pencils. Workshops around the UK - Teaches adults botanical illustration throughout the year on a wide range of workshops, from weekly evening classes to Zoom workshops and full board residential holidays. Specialises in pencil art in graphite and coloured pencil.
  • Simon Williams ​GM SBA * - Simon is the Course Director for the SBA Diploma. Author of Botanical Painting in Gouache. He specialises in gouache and delivers courses across the UK. Plus online tuition.

Individual Tutors Around the UK
​

Tutor are organised according to geographical area - ordered alphabetically
  • England - East, Midlands, London, North, South, West - and then by county in alphabetical order
  • Scotland
  • Wales

England - EAST
​

ESSEX
  • Janie Pirie GM SBA * - Specialises in floral and botanical art using coloured pencils. Workshops held in garden studio and at various outside venues.
NORFOLK
  • ​Elaine Searle * - A botanical artist whose paintings are widely commissioned and exhibited.  Past Course Director at the Chelsea School of Botanical Art. Diploma (distinction) in Botanical Painting from The English Gardening School, London. Mentored by Ann-Marie Evans. Works in Watercolor on paper and vellum and Graphite. Runs workshops in UK, USA and Italy. Also provides online distance learning short courses offering short videos and full email support and critiques and personal tutorials via Skype (if required).

England - MIDLANDS
​

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE & NORTH MIDLANDS
  • Sue Vize SBA ASBA teaches botanical illustration in coloured pencils and graphite at classes in Nottingham, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and RHS Garden Harlow Carr. She is also the author of Botanical Drawing using Graphite and Coloured Pencils.
STAFFORDSHIRE
  • Dianne Sutherland BSc Hons Biology, SBA, ASBA, Dip Bot Art SBA, CBM * - Worked for many years as a freelance artist and illustrator prior to focusing on botanical art.  She has a BSc Honours in Biology from the University of Aberdeen, focusing on floral morphology and reproductive success in flowering plants. Graduated with distinction from the SBA Diploma Course. An experienced tutor who works in work in graphite and watercolour on paper and vellum. Demos / classes for art societies, small groups and individuals. (in addition to Online Tuition - see above)
Picture
Dianne Sutherland at RHS Botanical Art Show in 2014
Botanical Drawing using Graphite and Coloured Pencils by Sue Vize
​
What this book provides is DETAIL in relation to instruction - and LOTS of it.
​This in turn makes it especially appreciated by lots of buyers.
​Covers:
  • Techniques on using graphite and coloured pencils
  • Practical help on lighting, posture and keeping plants fresh
  • Instruction on composition, colour charts and mixing
  • Advice on portraying texture and hairs, and achieving bloom on fruit
  • Simple explanations of botany to aid the artist's understanding
  • Structured by season to include a range of flowers and plant
​Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd
Publication date: 15 Jun. 2016

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
​Average Customer Rating out of 5 stars:
  • in UK: 4.6 (based on 270 customer reviews)
  • in USA: 4.7 based on 263 customer reviews​

England - LONDON
​

SW LONDON
  • Sarah Gould * - teaching vellum painting since 2001  at various centres for botanical illustration
  • Anna Haigh - a botanist and eMonocot taxonomist at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew who teaches botany at the Chelsea Botanical Art School
  • Lucy T Smith GM * - an Australian who two Gold Medals and the Margaret Flockton Award for Scientific Illustration twice (2014 and 2017). She works for Kew Gardens as a botanical illustrator and tutors the Botanical Illustration Courses at Kew Gardens and is a guest lecturer at the Chelsea School of Botanical Art
Picture
Lucy T Smith delivering a class at the Chelsea School of Botanical Art

England - NORTH
​

​​CUMBRIA​
  • Susan Christopher Coulson GM VPSBA * - Very experienced botanical artist and tutor. Now delivering botanical art courses at West Dean College near Chichester and Higham Hall in the Lake District
YORKSHIRE
  • Bridget Gillespie GM * ​- based in North Yorkshire, she teaches botanical art across North Yorkshire (including at Helmsley Walled Garden). She also lectures in the History of Botanical Illustration. 
  • ​See Sue Vize SBA ASBA (in Midlands). Sue teaches at RHS Harlow Carr.
DERBYSHIRE
  • Michael Lakin - based in Ticknall, South Derbyshire. Has a purpose built studio in his garden (with ample parking) where he holds all his  1-2 day courses and his weekly classes.  Author of  Beginner’s Guide to Botanical Flower Painting and  A-Z of Botanical Flowers book.​ NOTE: Google his name - my browser thinks his website is insecure.

England - SOUTH
​

Picture
Julia Trickey with her tuition exhibit at the RHS Show in 2015
BATH 
  • Julia Trickey GM ASBA - Award-winning artist (4 RHS Gold Medals). Holds a life long learning qualification for adult tuition. Regular 10 week courses and one day workshops available near Bath. Produces short instruction leaflets and mini videos. Also teaches workshops around the UK and abroad, often by invitation.
CORNWALL
DEVON
  • Rosie Martin GM one of the illustrators and authors of the Eden Project Books. Runs regular courses at her studio near Totnes, Devon, on Tuesdays and Thursdays
DORSET
  • Christina Hart-Davies GM * ​- Winding down as a tutor with very occasional one- and two-day workshops in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Also leads workshops for private groups and societies interested in botanical painting.  Author of A Wild Plant Year and The Greenwood Trees.
  • Sally Pinhey ​FLS - teaches a weekly course at the  Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester and short courses at the Kingcombe Centre. Author of The Botanical Illustrator's Handbook​
Picture
Christina Hart-Davies with two of her drawings at Florum 2016
HAMPSHIRE
  • Ros Franklin GM FLS, FEPFS ASBA - Teaches workshops from her studio in Hampshire. Also teaches at the Eden Project, for Field Breaks and at RHS Gardens.
  • Jarnie Godwin MTcg PGCE BSC(hons) DipSBA(Dist) * ​- Gained a Distinction in her SBA Diploma. PGCE and Master of Teaching & Learning degree from University of London with specialism in how people learn. Plus 8 years teaching experience in Secondary schools and Further Education colleges. Past painting tutor the London Art College Botanical Distance learning course. She now delivers Courses, Workshops, Tuition and Talks
Picture
Sarah Morrish with her exhibit at RHS Botanical Art Show 2016
Natural History Illustration In Pen and Ink By Sarah Morrish
This is a very impressive first book by Sarah Morrish who is a very experienced natural history illustrator. Sarah deals comprehensively with pen and ink drawing and illustration and this book is packed full of very good content. While the majority of objects illustrated are not botanical, the techniques are readily transferable to botanical subject matter.

Very practical and useful with excellent summaries of key points.
​Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Crowood Press
Publication date: 10 August 2021
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
​Rated an average of:
  • 4.6 out 5 stars by 105 reviewers on Amazon UK
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars by 108 customers on Amazon.com
KENT
  • Billy Showell PPSBA * ​​- Author of four best-selling and highly recommended textbooks about botanical painting and owner of a very popular website providing online tuition in botanical art which includes an extensive library of online video tutorials available to subscribers.  Pre-Covid she also taught classes at a variety of other locations. Past President of the Society of Botanical Artists.
Picture
Billy Showell with two of her paintings at the Annual Exhibition of the Society of Botanical Artists 2016.
Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour By Billy Showell
Billy has a huge following because she makes tuition friendly, accessible and helpful.

​Her book includes both basic tips (e.g. stretching watercolour paper) and techniques specifically used by botanical artists.
​Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Search Press Ltd
Publication date: 21 Mar. 2016
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
​Rated an average of:
  • 4.9 out 5 stars by 57 reviewers on Amazon UK
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars by 35 customers on Amazon.com
SURREY
  • Helen Allen* BA, PGCert Ed, FLS Former Course Director of the Chelsea School of Botanical Art. Teaches at her studio at Ham. Now teaches occasionally - including online.
​SUSSEX
Books by Leigh Ann Gale
Botanical Illustration:
​The Complete Guide
Colour for Botanical Artists
​and Illustrators
Drawing and Painting Leaves
NOW IN Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd
Publication date: 8 Sept 2023
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
​Rated an average of:
  • 4.9 out 5 stars by 57 reviewers on Amazon UK
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars by 35 customers on Amazon.com
​Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd
Publication date: 27 Septemver 2021
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
​Rated an average of:
  • 4.9 out 5 stars by 34 reviewers on Amazon UK
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars by 35 customers on Amazon.com
​Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd
Publication date: 8 May 2025
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
​Rated an average of:
  • 4.8 out 5 stars by 16 reviewers on Amazon UK and on Amazon.com
SOMERSET
  • Meriel Thurstan  One of the principal illustrators and authors of the Eden Project books about botanical illustration. Founder Chairman of the South West Society of Botanical Artists; Founder member of the Eden Project Florilegium Society. Weekly classes at her home.
A
  • Jackie Isard GM (2022) SBAF ​* ​ Graduated in Graphic Design (1989), Jackie has artworks in the RHS, Hunt and Shirley Sherwood Collection and is a DLDC Tutor for the SBA. As an experienced tutor teaching botanical and nature illustration, she tutors various workshops with Society groups at venues in different parts of the UK. She has a regular Saturday group in North Somerset. She also teaches Missenden School of Creative Arts and Transylvania.  
Picture
Ann Swan's coloured pencils - seen while she was demonstrating at RHS Botanical Art 2014
WILTSHIRE
  • Sally Pond - ex-tutor at the Chelsea Botanical Art School and runs regular Botanical Painting workshops in Salisbury and for Artsmart in Beaconsfield and for art groups on request
  • Ann Swan GM SBA - Workshops and Holidays * ​ - Exhibited at RHS and Hunt and work is in the Shirley Sherwood Collection. She has also served as a Judge on the RHS Picture Panel. Works in graphite and/or coloured pencils and a passionate advocate for coloured pencils. Has strong abilities in contemporary design. Author of Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils (see below). Teaches at all levels. Her workshops get booked up very quickly. Workshops are delivered from her home studio in Wiltshire and at venues and for organisations around the UK and abroad. 
​Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils by Ann Swan
This is the first ever book written by an RHS gold medal winning artist to deal in depth with the execution of botanical art in coloured pencils to exhibition standard. It's an invaluable guide to those wanting to develop their skills in using coloured pencils for botanical art. 
Katherine Tyrrell
This book on rendering botanical art in coloured pencil is by RHS Gold Medal winning artist and SBA Member Ann Swan - one of the leading coloured pencil artists in the world.

Anne is a very popular coloured pencil tutor and her workshops get booked up very fast. 

​Hence this book is a very welcome addition to the libraries of coloured pencil artists who want to develop their botanical art skills.
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: Collins in the UK; Barrons in the USA
Publication date (UK): 1 April 2009 (USA) 1 April 2010

​HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
​Rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 602 customer reviews on Amazon UK / Amazon.com
​Read my in-depth Book review: Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils on a separate page.

SCOTLAND
​

WALES
​
  • RETIRED FROM TEACHING? Fiona Strickland GM *  - Award-winning botanical artist and very experienced art teacher. Tuition takes the form of Master Classes, weekly classes or residential courses at various venues. Her teaching is organised alongside that of her husband Robert McNeill (see below).
  • RETIRED FROM TEACHING? Robert McNeill DA Edin. SBA CBM *  - Robert graduated from Edinburgh College of Art where he studied drawing and painting. He then taught art in a teaching career that lasted 31 years. In 2011, he took early retirement and took up botanical art. He is now a practising professional botanical artist and teaches botanical art with his wife Fiona Strickland.
  • Sharon Tingey GM - Tutor at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.
  • Debbie Devaunden - Lives in Monmouthshire. Studied for the Diploma in Botanical Illustration with Anne-Marie Evans at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Exhibited with the SBA. Provides classes and tuition in Botanical Illustration around south / central Wales
  • Polly O'Leary SBA * - lives on the border of the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales.  Graduated from SBA Distance Learning Diploma Course with Distinction in 2014. Regular exhibitor with SBA ever since. In 2014 her Step-by-Step article on the painting of Phragmipedium Bel Royal was published in the Orchid Society of Great Britain Journal. She is a past Tutor for the London Art College Course in Botanical Illustration
  • ​Claire Ward PSBA * - Current Co-President of the SBA Completed the SDA diploma in botanical illustration with distinction in 2007. Runs workshops at Denmark farm conservation centre in West Wales and the Elan Valley in Powys.  Author of "Drawing and Painting Fungi"

BOTANICAL ART INSTRUCTORS / TEACHERS / TUTORS - EUROPE
​

  • Botanical Art Instructors / Teachers / Tutors are listed according to where they live.
  • International teachers may also teach in that country.

​Austria
​

VIENNA​
  • Mischa Skorescz trained and works as a psychotherapist in Vienna. She has recently started teaching botanical illustration at art centres in Austria.

Germany
​

BAVARIA
  • Katja Katholing-Bloss Bayreuth - While living in England she taught taught botanical art at the Hereford College of Technology in England. Her workshops and classes are suitable for beginners and intermediate students. Private lessons for one person or a small group.

France
​
  • Vincent Jeannerot has taught a workshop at the ASBA Conference

Ireland
​

*DUBLIN
  • Shevaun Doherty PPSBA * - Specialises in Watercolour & Vellum painting; Hosts a Botanical Elements Online Course on her website. Tutor for SBA Distance Learning Diploma (Vellum & Composition). Private tuition for groups/individuals (all levels).
  • Mary Dillon - Achieved an SBA Diploma with Distinction in 2014. She taught at annual ASBA conferences and other international workshops.​
GALWAY
  • Jane Stark - A graduate of the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Canada, she has worked in graphic design and natural history illustration in Canada, the US and Ireland. She enjoys teaching botanical art and drawing and runs regular classes and workshops in the Galway area.​
WEST CORK
  • Ida Mitrani - a multidisciplinary artist and art educator. First class honours Masters degree in Art and Process from Crawford College of Art and Design (2021); BA in Fine Art from the Institute of Art, Design & Technology Dun Laoghaire (2003). Teaches at Burren College.

Italy
​

TUSCANY

Netherlands
​

THE HAGUE
  • ​Anita Walsmit Sachs The Hague - Teaches short courses of botanical art at De Hortus Botanicus the Leiden - founded in 1590. Teaches Adults. Critiques offered by mail
  • ​Esmee Winkel GM * - Multiple GM winner. Master's Degree in Scientific Illustration at the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design and Maastricht University. For 18 years she worked as a botanical artist for scientists at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Dutch research institute and Natural history museum in Leiden. Scientific illustrator at the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre. Now a full time painter.

Romania
​

BUCHAREST
  • Irina Neacsu is a designer with a wide portfolio of interior architecture and applied art projects. She has taught art for 10 years. She founded the Romanian Society of Botanical Artists (RSBA) in 2018. She organised and delivered her first set of botanical art workshops in 2018.

Spain
​

ANDALUCIA
  • Úrsula Romero - Very experienced painter and well known for creating large botanical paintings. She offers courses held at the artist's atelier in Spain.
    • one to one tuition in one or two day courses
    • one week painting holidays

Switzerland
​

  • Sonja Beer has been teaching botanical art for 6 years in Wales. She studied for the SBA Diploma in Botanical Art and was awarded this with Distinction in 2012. Having lived in Wales for 30 years, she moved back to her home country of Switzerland in 2022 and is establishing a new base for teaching where she will teach in English or German (and there's not many who can teach in German!).  See her blog for details.

Turkey

  • Işık Güner GM She is based in Turkey but travels widely and delivers an extensive variety of workshops. She studied Botanical Illustration with Christabel King at Bogazici University. After she graduated in 2006, she began working full time as a Botanical Artist. She has won Gold Medals at the RHS Botanical Art Show. She is involved with several major botanical illustration projects and teaches alongside these. She has been organising and delivering courses in plant painting since 2008, been a tutor for the RGBE Diploma and Certificate Courses and organized and taught botanical illustration courses in Spain, Chile, Turkey and Scotland.

BOTANICAL ART INSTRUCTORS / TEACHERS / TUTORS
​- NORTH AMERICA
​

Online Tuition with North American Tutors
​

This listing is limited to people who have proper set-ups for the delivery of Online Tuition - which is not limited to students living in the USA or Canada.​​
Botanical Drawing in Color:
​A Basic Guide to Mastering Realistic Form and Naturalistic Color by Wendy Hollender
Wendy Hollender's approach in this book is to tackle form first and colour second. It focuses on:
  • single light source toning techniques
  • principles of perspective for drawing flowers
  • the fundamentals of plant anatomy
  • coloured pencil techniques and colour theory of the natural world
The book also has lots of exercises and discussion of art supplies.​​
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
Publication date: 1 Oct. 2010

Average Customer Rating out of 5 stars:
  • in UK: 4.8 (based on 492 customer reviews)
  • in USA: 4.7 based on 540 customer reviews​​

Canada
​

ONTARIO
  • Kerri Weller - based in Ottawa Ontario. Exhibited at the Hunt in 2016. Teaches classes from basics to advanced.
NOVA SCOTIA
  • Margaret Best based in Chester, Nova Scotia. Degree in Education. Has been teaching botanical art around the world since 2006. Works in watercolour and coloured pencil.​

USA
​

  • Tutors listed below are those who are listed on the ASBA website and have a substantive evidence of teaching botanical art and illustration
  • Links in a name in bold go to the artists own website (where possible) - generally their workshops and classes page.
​
PACIFIC
OREGON
  • Jeanne Debons Bend - Teaching since 2008. Holds botanical illustration courses from her studio in Bend, OR and other locations by invitation.
  • Janet Parker a Portland-based botanical artist and NYBG-certified instructor. Her classes are highly regarded, often hosted through local institutions like the Oregon Society of Artists and Oregon College of Art and Craft​
WASHINGTON
  • Kathleen McKeehen  freelance scientific illustrator who teaches botanical drawing and painting through a number of venues in the Seattle area, including Gage Academy, the U.W. Center for Urban Horticulture, and the Winslow Art Center on Bainbridge Island.  
MOUNTAIN
ARIZONA
  • Elaine Hultgren Mesa - An instructor based at the Desert Botanical Garden Art and Illustration School, Phoenix, Arizona and focuses on Arizona Desert wildflowers and Cacti
COLORADO
  • Susan T. Fisher Denver - Has been teaching botanical art classes for over 25 years. She created curriculum and taught at the Denver Botanic Gardens, where she coordinated the botanical art program. Susan is also the former Director of the Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum where she created the Nature Illustration Certificate Program. She continues to teach workshops from coast to coast.​
  • Marjorie Leggitt Boulder, Colorado - has taught core and elective courses at Denver Botanic Gardens School of Botanical Art and Illustration since 1990.  She has also instructed botanical art classes at the Huntington Gardens for BAGSC, the National Botanic Gardens, the Pioneer Craft House (for the Circle Group in Salt Lake City), the Denver of Museum of Nature and Science, and at numerous Guild of Natural Science Illustrator Conferences.  Lists a range of art classes. Created a range of online classes during the pandemic. This is a link to her Current Art Classes​
NEW MEXICO
  • ​Lisa Coddington Based in Santa Fe. Has been teaching art for over 20 years at numerous traditional and non-traditional educational organizations. Workshops on Botanical Drawing and Watercolour and Painting Leaves
CENTRAL
​ALABAMA
  • RETIRED? Derek Norman - Founder, Director of the Midwest Center for Botanical Documentation, a not-for-profit visual archive of the native flora of Illinois and the Midwest. Currently offering a casual sketch club experience at Mobile Botanical Gardens
​ILLIONOIS
OHIO
  • RETIRED? Deborah Kopka Perrysburg - teaches Botanical Illustration in Watercolor and Mixed Media in university and community college adult education programs, and in botanical gardens.. She was the botanical illustration instructor at the Toledo Museum of Art School of Art and Design for several years and has taught at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum at the University of Michigan, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Pittsburgh) Botanical Illustration Certificate Program, and Bowling Green State University Continuing Education.
MINNESOTA
MISSOURI
TENNESSEE
WISCONSIN
EASTERN
CONNECTICUT
  • Katie Lee Fairfield - a renowned botanical and wildlife artist and instructor and author of Fundamental Graphite Techniques. Offers year round classes online or in her studio.
  • Kathie Miranda Shelton
  • Dick Rauh Wilton - Taught at NYBG for 10 years, Morphology for Botanical Artists, taught workshops at Los Angeles Arboretum, Phipps Conservatory, Arizoma- Sonora Desert Museum, Morton Arboretum 
  • Leslie Watkins Norfolk 
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
MAINE
  • Gretchen Kai Halpert based in Portland is a Natural science illustrator and educator. She runs a program for people interested in combining science and art, and wanting to develop strong rendering skills.​ She has a BA in Botany from Connecticut College, studied biological illustration at the University of New Haven Graduate School and received a certificate in Scientific and Technical Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. She is a past president of The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and has a Scientific Illustration Distance Program
  • Marcia DeWitt Sedgwick ​
  • Linda Heppes Funk Tenants Harbor
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
NEW YORK
  • ​Diane Bouchier Founder of the ASBA, Studied scientific illustration at Harvard University. Certificate in botanical art and illustration from The New York Botanical Garden. She has taught botanical art and nature drawing for a number of different Long Island organizations, and offers public lectures on the history and contemporary revival of this artistic tradition.  Works in graphite, colored pencil, tempera
  • Wendy Hollender Accord - an instructor of Botanical Art and Illustration at the New York Botanical Garden and author of two books of botanical art instruction who delivers 3 and 5 day workshops based on her farm. ​
  • Karen Kluglein East Hampton
  • Rose Pellicano Westhampton 
  • Roberta Rosenthal Bloomingburg 
  • Laura Vogel - has taught botanical illustration at ​NYBG for 18 years. 
  • Carol Woodin - Carol frequently travels to deliver masterclasses, workshops and courses
NEW HAMPSHIRE
PENNSYLVANIA
VERMONT
VIRGINIA

BOTANICAL ART INSTRUCTORS / TEACHERS / TUTORS ​- AUSTRALASIA
​

 Distance Learning Tuition - based in Australasia
​

This listing is limited to those with experience of delivering a distance learning course - and who are based in Australasia.
  • Leonie Norton - based in Australia. Has been operating a distance learning course for the last 11 years. This course is not online. All tuition and assessment is by post. Also does botanical art holidays.

Australia
​

New Zealand
​NEW SOUTH WALES
  • Susannah Blaxill - Teaches botanical drawing (in pencil and pen and ink) and painting at Mittagong Studio, Mittagong NSW 2575. All classes are for a maximum of 6 students and run for a period of 5 consecutive days (or shorter by arrangement)
  • Helen Fitzgerald - based at Queanbeyan, NSW 2620. Teaches at Bungendore School of Arts. This is her Courses Page. Besides botanical art she also teaches skills in watercolour. (Retired 2019)
  • Leonie Norton - Based in Sydney. Leonie is the most experienced art tutor in NSW. She has accredited qualifications as an art teacher and has taught in Community Colleges for 20+ years. Currently teaches at WEA Sydney - which is an Adult Education Organisation and a member of Community Colleges Australia. This is her Workshops Page. She also has an Online Learning Course and produces Video Tutorials.

VICTORIA
  • Jenny Phillips - founded and teaches at the Botanical Art School of Melbourne (BASM). She started the school in 1992.

Please contact me - see form at bottom of page - if you teach botanical art in Australia.
Please contact me - see form at bottom of page - if you teach botanical art in New Zealand. 
​

BOTANICAL ART INSTRUCTORS / TEACHERS / TUTORS ​- AFRICA
​
​

South Africa (coming soon)
​

Top botanical artists who teach in South Africa offer courses ranging from introductory painting to scientific illustration, often collaborating with institutions like Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
  • Daleen Roodt, 
  • Jonanda Kannemeyer.
  • Vicki Thomas,
Please contact me - see form at bottom of page - if you teach botanical art in South Africa.
​

BOTANICAL ART INSTRUCTORS / TEACHERS / TUTORS ​- ASIA
​​

Countries are listed below according to the five regions of Asia - FROM WEST TO EAST

WESTERN ASIA
​
​United Arab Emirates
​

  • Shevaun Doherty PPSBA Works full time as a professional Botanical & Natural History Artist and tutor. She teaches her own online course but also speaks Arabic and works with socofujairah.ae to bring botanical and nature art to UAE. She also teaches workshops in Dubai.. Graduated with a Distinction in the SBA's Diploma course in 2012 and past Co-President of the Society of Botanical Artists in the UK. She has won Gold Medals at Bloom (RHS in Ireland) and Best in Show in 2017.

SOUTH ASIA

India
​

  • Hemlata Pradhan has been a Botanical Artist for the last 40 years. She is the first Indian to win the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal and the 18th World Orchid Conference Gold Medal in France for her paintings of India’s Wild Orchids. She founded the Himalayan Trust for Natural History Art (HTNHA) in 2003 and created opportunities for children from rural areas of Kalimpong to become involved in art about plants.

  • Nirupa Rao is a very impressive botanical illustrator based in Bangalore, India.  (see ​About Nirupa Rao - a contemporary botanical illustrator in India)
    • During the COVID-19 lockdown, as part of an initiative by the Going to School Foundation, she taught botanical art classes televised on the national channel Doordarshan.
    • She has also co-mentored two annual botanical art workshops at the Rao-Jodha Desert Rock Park (Jodhpur) with fellow artist Malini Saigal and ecologist Pradip Krishen
    • plus delivered a workshop with goetheinstitut_chennai

Nepal
​
Neera Joshi
Neera Joshi with her paintings and Jacqui Pestell (Dire ctor of the RBGE Courses) at BISCOT in 2007

SOUTH EAST ASIA
​
Thailand
​

  • Dr. Sasivimon Swangpol, known as Ajan Pu-Pe, is a Thai botanist and Assistant Professor at Mahidol University and an Educator.
    • She established  Thailand’s first university-level Scientific Illustration course in 1999, alongside an annual public workshop.
    • She is also the the founding president of the Sci-Art Network, through which she has led more than 50 workshops, exhibitions, and collaborative activities with botanical gardens, museums, and international illustration societies.  Under her guidance, the Network has hosted a series of exhibitions, including Botanical Art Thailand (2019–2024) and Botanical Art Worldwide Thailand in 2018 and 2025. These efforts aim to nurture emerging talent and promote dialogue at the intersection of science, art, and cultural heritage.
    • ​Since 2018, she has also served as Vice President and Academic Chair of the Botanical Society of Thailand

HOW TO GET LISTED AS AN EDUCATOR, TEACHER OR TUTOR
​

PLEASE follow the instructions for completing this form carefully.
My sole aim is to ensure that the Tutors included above have the appropriate credentials for teaching botanical art. 
If you can't follow instructions I'm not likely to be impressed!
TIP: You can extend the form by dragging it down from the right hand corner. 
If you'd prefer to email me, please send your contact details in the form and I will reply with the list of information I need which you can complete and return by email.

On the form please tell me:
  • how long you have been teaching botanical art
  • your website URL as an artist
  • your webpage or website URL for teaching activities
  • where I can find evidence that I'm looking for of your credentials as an experienced and expert teacher of botanical art and illustration

To be listed as a tutor you need to be:
  • an experienced botanical artist to a very good standard (as evidenced by artwork online, your CV, exhibitions you have been selected for; awards won etc.)
  • an experienced teacher of botanical art (as evidenced by places and/or courses you have taught)
  • ideally accredited with teaching qualifications

To be listed as teaching online you need:
  • a proper website dedicated to teaching online and customised for viewing on devices of different sizes (ie desktop and mobile) and/or details available of facilities for communicating with students online.

TIPS If you are new to teaching botanical art
Please make sure you develop your website is informative and your use of both it and social media can provide me with online evidence of your courses which you can refer me to.

    PLEASE LIST ME
    ​as a Tutor of botanical art and/or illustration

Tuition and Workshops - Recommendations
​

If you have completed a course of tuition and/or done a workshop with a tutor who you would like to recommend please complete this form

You need to tell me 
  1. who the tutor is
  2. what their website address is
  3. where they are located
  4. what course you did with dates
  5. why you are recommending them - please be specific as you can as to how they helped you.

    Recommend a tutor or workshop
EDUCATION
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