Workshops & Courses
WORKSHOPS & COURSES 2026
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDENS
DRAWING A BUNCH OF CRAB APPLES
Coloured Pencil
3rd, 4th & 5th March (10am – 1pm)
ONLINE
This is a course intended for those who do not like to come to the classroom, and perhaps don't have the confidence to draw their own subjects, but wish to improve their coloured pencil technique. An image will be supplied for participants to copy.
Using a small palette of coloured pencils Janie will guide you through the stages to make your piece of artwork amazingly realistic. You will be sent an image in advance, so that you’re ready to colour as soon as the course begins. Full instructions will also be sent in advance.
BOOKING: Please call +44 (0) 1223 331875 or email education@botanic.cam.ac.uk
TAKING A DETAILED LOOK AT LEAVES
Coloured Pencils
7th, 8th & 9th April - CLASSROOM
Botanical illustration can be all about the flamboyance of a brightly coloured bloom or fruit, but nothing comes to life without the addition of leaves. On this course, we will concentrate on leaves alone, because they are so beautiful when studied and recorded in detail. Five or seven is a good number, but even with three days it’ll be difficult to get them all completed. However, you will be able to get them all drawn so that a good composition can be arranged. Depending on the size of your chosen leaves, it will be possible to complete two, three or even four. You will then be equipped to complete the remaining ones in your own time.
Before the class it would be a good idea to look at lots of leaves, so the five or seven you choose are all different. Look at the shades of green so they’re not all the same. A dried or dead one from last autumn would be a good addition. Study the edges too. Choose a selection of different ones; serrate, palmate, undulate, reniform, ovate, undulate – the list goes on. There are many, but a variety will make for a more interesting study (plate). There will be lots of leaves available in the botanic gardens but please bring some of your own if you would like to include them.
BOOKING: Please call +44 (0) 1223 331875 or email education@botanic.cam.ac.uk
ILLUSTRATING WILD FLOWERS
Coloured Pencils
9th, 10th & 11th June - CLASSROOM
Often overlooked, there are many beautiful wild flowers and grasses, mostly passed by on a daily basis. This course will give botanical artists the opportunity to take a closer look at the complexities of these little plants and illustrate several in a mixed study, using coloured pencils to complete them. Corncockle, Campion, Buttercups, Wild Garlic, Ryegrass, Meadowgrass, Creeping Red Fescue, Meadow Foxtail, Sedge - the list is endless. Group demonstrations and individual tuition will be given throughout.
June is the beginning of summer, so a whole host of flowers will be blooming in all their glory. There are so many I won’t even begin a list. This three-day course is designed so you can draw and colour one large, or several smaller flowers to make a Mixed Flower Study. If you wish you can incorporate dissections, to make it a proper Botanical Study. Whatever you choose you will learn how to draw your subject accurately, transfer it to good art paper then colour it using coloured pencils. Janie will show you how to layer the colours to create a beautifully smooth finish, as well as show you ways to record the tiniest details using ‘tools of the trade’. There will be flowers available at the botanic gardens but if you would like to bring your own you are most welcome.
BOOKING: Please call +44 (0) 1223 331875 or email education@botanic.cam.ac.uk
DRAWING & COLOURING AUTUMN LEAVES
Coloured Pencils
6th, 7th & 8th October - CLASSROOM
Leaves are predominantly green, but they take on an extra beauty in the autumn when they turn yellow, orange, amber, red, brown and copper. They also take on the extra dimension of dryness and crispness. This course will concentrate on drawing the details of dried, autumnal leaves. It is hoped a page of several leaves will be drawn and coloured during the course, depending on the size chosen. Group demonstrations and individual tuition will be given throughout.
BOOKING: Please call +44 (0) 1223 331875 or email education@botanic.cam.ac.uk
FLATFORD MILL FSC – Dedham, Essex
MEDIEVAL LETTERING
15th – 17th May
Learn how to create a stunning Medieval Letter using 24ct gold leaf and then decorating it with illustrations or plants, animals or Celtic knot designs. Gold leaf, glue and good quality art paper will be supplied. A complete information sheet and other equipment needed will be sent out to all participants before the course. Medieval Lettering can be illustrated using watercolour or coloured pencils. A selection of letters and designs will be available on the first day if required.
The art of Embellishing capital letters at the beginning of a script has been practised for hundreds of years and are exquisite pieces of art. This is your chance to learn the basics of this art and create something unique to you. It could be the initial of a child or grandchild, or just a letter you like. A ‘B’ could be used with bluebells, bumble bees, butterflies, birds, the colour blue, berries, blackberries etc. or an ‘M’ could be accompanied by marigolds, mauve, magnolia, morning glory, monarda, magpie, monarch butterfly, meadow brown, moths – I’m sure you’ve got the drift by now. The designs are endless. Each will be a ‘one-off’ and very personal. You will be able to complete the project during the course as your work will not measure more than 4 inches square approx.
BOOKING: http://www.field-studies-council-org
BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION
WATERCOLOUR
29th – 31st July
Come and join an RHS gold medal winning tutor and learn the basics of watercolour techniques to create a piece of botanical illustration. You will learn how to lay down simple glazes, merge colours, create good gradations, add fine details and so much more. Janie will bring along some of her own work to inspire you. You can see examples of her work at www.janiepirie.co.uk
BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION
COLOURED PENCILS
17th – 19th August
This exciting course is for those who may not have a previous knowledge of coloured pencils but who are interested in botanical art and wish to explore the wonderful world of coloured pencil drawing. Whilst no previous knowledge of coloured pencil use is necessary, basic drawing skills of anything botanical (flowers/fruit/vegetables) would be beneficial.
Good quality coloured pencils are ideally suited to botanical art. Far superior to the ‘crayons’ we used at school, modern coloured pencils designed for professionals enable the user to create the most intricate and vibrant illustrations. The course will begin by covering the basic techniques so that beginners can become acquainted with the pencils. Composition and observation of plant materials will also be covered at the beginning of the course. Subject matter for this course will depend on what is available at the time. Students may bring their own plant material if they wish.
BOOKING: http://www.field-studies-council-org
BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION – AUTUMN TREASURES
Coloured Pencil
26th – 28th October
The autumn garden is a cornucopia of interesting bits and bobs! There is always an abundance of seed heads, dead heads and leaves and autumnal fruits to draw and illustrate. Come and join enthusiastic botanical illustrators, and an award-winning tutor, and learn how to capture the beauty of these subjects using coloured pencils. You will be given expert guidance throughout and will be amazed at what you can create with a little help. All materials will be available to purchase, or you can bring your own.
Subject matter will be provided depending on what is available at the time. This may include flowers, shrubs, fruit or vegetables. If you have something you would like to illustrate you are welcome to bring it along.
BOOKING: http://www.field-studies-council-org
RHS HYDE HALL - Chelmsford
ILLUSTRATING SPRING FLOWERS
Coloured Pencils
Tuesday 26th May 10.30am – 4pm
Coloured Pencil art is becoming more and more popular, with artists around the world making spectacular paintings and winning awards. Janie, your tutor, is one of them. With many top prizes and two RHS gold medals to her credit, she will show you how to use coloured pencils to create some amazing art of your own. Using something botanical as your subject you will be shown how to lay down colours to make them look like the sweep of a watercolour brush. You will learn how to add other colours to make gradations from dark to light (without showing the joins) and lots of other techniques that help to make a piece of coloured pencil art vibrant and three-dimensional.
BOOKING: Email: adultlearning@rhs.org.uk
FLORAL MEDIEVAL LETTERING USING GOLD LEAF
Coloured Pencils and/or Watercolour
Friday 24th July
Medieval Illuminated Lettering is an art form that goes back centuries. The opening letter of a chapter in an ancient book was always something beautiful to behold. Using real gold and strong pigment paints these letters were painstakingly created by monks hundreds of years ago. They were often intertwined with flowers and plants. On this workshop you will draw a letter of your choice and add some flowers, leaves, birds, butterflies or insects to create something beautiful and unique. A ‘B’ could be used with bluebells, bumble bees, butterflies, birds, the colour blue, berries, blackberries etc. or an ‘M’ could be accompanied by marigolds, mauve, magnolia, morning glory, monarda, magpie, monarch butterfly, meadow brown, moths – I’m sure you’ve got the drift by now. Using more modern materials, but still with real 24ct gold leaf, you will be able to create a small letter of your choice in just one day. Letters to copy will be provided but if you have a favourite initial you would like to work with please Google ‘Royalty Free Medieval Letters’ and you are bound to find something that appeals to you. Most materials for this workshop will be provided.
BOOKING: Email: adultlearning@rhs.org.uk
ILLUSTRATING AUTUMN FRUITS
Coloured Pencils
Saturday 19th September
There are so many fruits around at this time of the year, even though some may be past their best. Pears, apples and quince are probably the most obvious but there are also rose hips, haw berries, bullace, damsons and even... [Content truncated for performance]