“Back to Basics” – Introduction to the Techniques used in Botanical Art
With tutor Lyn Campbell
We are pleased to announce a Beginners Course in Botanical Art open to members of the SSBA and members of the public who are interested in botanical art and in developing their skills. This is a 20 hour course run over 4 days in the McHattie Room at Saughton Park Gardens, Edinburgh. Course numbers are limited to 12 so individual attention can be provided.
Link to the BOOKING FORM
Sunday 22nd February Saturday 7th March
Sunday 22nd March Saturday 11th April
All 10am to 3pm
© L Campbell
The course fees are £125 for SSBA members and £145 for non-members
DAY 1 – Measured Drawing & the Use of Tone to create shape and form 22/2/26
DRAWING
How to Measure – learn different methods to obtain accurate drawings (rulers, dividers etc.)
Importance of accuracy in Botanical Art.
Use of different pencils, hard to soft.
PRACTICAL – accurate line drawing of botanical specimen (e.g. Tomato or apple).
TONE
Tonal studies using hard and soft pencils to establish the importance of light and dark, highlights and contrast to give 3 dimensional form.
PRACTICAL – measure, draw and do tonal study (e.g. Garlic bulb or mushroom).
DAY 2 – Introduction to working with watercolour paint 7/3/26
Introduction to different types of paper, paint and brushes
Transparent, opaque paints etc. Tubes/pans. Brushes, different qualities, normal/miniature.
Mixing of paint.
Introduce basic watercolour technique of clear water, colour then blend.
PRACTICAL – painting in Sepia – circles, tubes, etc. to practice technique. Then subject such as Garlic bulb ormushroom.
DAY 3 – Painting with Watercolour 22/3/26
Revision of colours, transparency and opaque etc.
Colour mixing and matching to subject and the importance of accuracy.
PRACTICAL – Measure, draw and paint plant material. (e.g. Selection of leaves).
DAY 4 – Painting of selected subject 11/4/26
Revise accurate drawing and importance of colour matching.
PRACTICAL – select subject then draw and paint (e.g. Apples, plums, asparagus, small carrots, radish, peppers, etc.).
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Lyn Campbell BSc Hons, Dip BI RBGE
My professional career was as a Paediatric Physiotherapist and my interest in Botanical Illustration started when I attended a night class, Beginning Botanical Illustration, at the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE).
This was the first time since primary school I had done any drawing or painting, what a steep learning curve! When I retired, I undertook the 2 year Diploma in Botanical Illustration at RBGE, graduating in 2010.
Since then, I have exhibited twice at the RHS Botanical Art Show in London, and three times at Botanical Images Scotia (BISCOT) in Edinburgh.
I started teaching on the Certificate in Botanical Teaching at RBGE in 2011. I then went on to teach various classes at RBGE at both Introductory and Intermediate levels and the week’s Introduction to Botanical Illustration held every summer. More recently I have taught both the Introductory and Intermediate courses run by the SSBA in the north and south of Scotland.
Capturing Autumn – Fruits, Nuts, Squashes and Seedheads
Where: The Old Brewery, Cromarty, The Black Isle
When: October 25th & 26th 2025 from 10am to 4pm
Cost: The cost is £170 for SSBA members and £190 for non-members. This includes tea/coffee and a ‘pack lunch’ each day.
Accommodation is available at the Old Brewery for workshop participants.
Autumn workshop with botanical artist Julie Price
Autumn rewards us with a wonderful array of brightly coloured berries, vegetables and seedheads. In this two-day watercolour course, Julie will focus on accurate observation and drawing, using various watercolour techniques so that you can create a selection of subjects from shiny berries to unusually shaped squashes and seedheads.
You can complete various subjects as a composition or one individual study.
Guidance will be on a one-to-one basis and in a group setting with demonstrations using seasonal subject matter. Reference materials will be available, and you are welcome to bring along your own botanical subject or project which you may wish to develop. The course is designed to help you improve your existing skills in watercolour and move you to the next level of detail in your work.
It is not suitable for complete beginners. Places are limited to 10.
The cost is £170 for SSBA members and £190 for non-members. This includes tea/coffee and a ‘pack lunch’ each day. Accommodation is available at the Old Brewery for workshop participants.
For availability or more information please contact Julie Price via director@thessba.org
Coloured Pencil Workshop with Marion Wilson SBA Fellow
Where: The studio, in The Crichton Centre Dumfries, DG1 4TA
When: Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April
Cost: Numbers are limited to 10 and the cost of the workshop is £170.00 for SSBA members and £180.00 for non-members. This includes tea, coffee and lunch each day.
Accommodation if needed is available in the Holiday Inn on site, or nearby B&Bs if you prefer.
Workshop Programme.
Saturday 10am – 12.30
Introduction to choosing and drawing the subject.
Discussion of merits of types of paper.
Different Pencil qualities.
1.30 – 4pm Choosing colours and recording them.
Demonstration of different methods of laying down colour.
Individual help with students work.
Sunday
10am – 12.30 Demonstration of detail and methods of erasing.
Undershading method
1.30 – 4pm Demonstration of finishing touches and detail.
Continuing work.
Looking at results and ways to improve.
What to bring: cartridge paper, watercolour paper, pencil, magnifying glass, artists colour pencils if you have any On receipt of your application form we will confirm your booking and provide payment details
Click here to book
We are delighted to announce that we have received a grant of £2,000 from the William Syson Foundation.
The William Syson Foundation was established in 2012. An enthusiastic and long-time supporter of music and the visual arts, particularly in Scotland, William Syson’s objective in setting up the Foundation was to help provide opportunities for practice and enjoyment of the arts, and to assist and encourage the country’s next generation of musical and artistic talent.
The support provided by the Foundation will help us secure and provide the exhibition facilities for botanical artists across Scotland and the public access to the World Wide Day of Botanical Art and the Botanical Scotia exhibition in 2025.
Botanical Scotia resources for the Worldwide Day of Botanical Art in 2025
Heritage crops, diversity & sustainability
This exhibition will focus on celebrating biodiversity in the crops that have been closely associated with the human species over thousands of years, specifically; Heritage Crops, Crop Wild Relatives and Ancient Crops. Please download the guidelines to find more in-depth information on these categories and how to enter.
Botanical Scotia resources for the Worldwide Day of Botanical Art in 2025 are now available for you to access including;
The full Guidelines to Artists
Contemporary Botanical Art 17 January – 25 February 2024
This exhibition presents new work by members of the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists (SSBA) alongside sculptures by Ellen McCann. For this exhibition, and to reflect the charitable aims of the SOC, the artists have taken their inspiration from plants found in the wild in Scotland. These plants, wild flowers, trees, brambles and weeds form part of the habitat of wild birds and pollinators, and indeed visiting birds and insects are included in some of the paintings! The SSBA promotes and encourages botanical art in Scotland. It is an inclusive organisation whose membership ranges from those relatively new to botanical art to professional artists. They work in a variety of media including watercolour, acrylic, coloured pencil, graphite and ink.
The paintings are accompanied by sculptures by Ellen McCann. Her ceramic sculptures are inspired by plants in transition – gently moving towards opening up, inviting us to imagine what they might become. Ellen’s sculptures are made with stoneware clay constructed using slabs and coils, then carved, glazed and fired to 1250 degrees. They can be placed indoors or outdoors, and indeed there will be some sculptures in the garden at the SOC. Ellen is the recipient of a number of awards and travelling scholarships. She is based near Biggar.
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC)
Waterston House, Aberlady, EH32 0PY
Open Wed-Sun (10-4)
www.the-soc.org.uk
About the SOC: the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) promotes the study, conservation and enjoyment of wild birds and their habitats in Scotland.
SSBA 9th Annual Exhibition
At the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club in Aberlady
From 17th January to 25th February 2024
The gallery is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 10:00am to 4pm.
One of the aims of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club is to ‘support the conservation of wild birds and their habitats throughout Scotland’. This exhibition will, therefore, reflect the habitat of wild birds with paintings depicting plants found in the wild, natural environment in Scotland, from wildflower meadows to garden weeds!
We will again be including cards and mini-paintings, at very affordable prices.
SSBA Botanical Art Introductory and Intermediate courses in the south and north of Scotland
The SSBA is delighted to announce that the SSBA Botanical Art Introductory and Intermediate courses in the south and north of Scotland are now available to apply for the autumn 2023 Introductory courses, or to note interest in the April 2024 Intermediate courses.
The courses are available due to the award to the SSBA of the Finnis Scott Foundation Botanical Art Prize. This is a biennial prize of £10,000 awarded to support and promote the practice of botanical art.
The courses are open to SSBA members and members of the public who are interested in learning and developing their botanical art skills.
The courses will be provided free of charge to participants, although they will have to pay for their own travel, accommodation, breakfast, dinner and recommended art materials.
If you live in the south or north of Scotland, would you be interested in attending? Or do you know anyone who would like to learn or develop their skill?
More information is available in the attached information document and we encourage anyone interested to apply or note their interest (follow the links in the document).
SSBA Botanical Art Courses Information Click Here
SSBA 8th Annual Exhibition
We’re very excited to showcase our members work at the SSBA 8th Annual Exhibition
March 25th to April 30th
at
The Maclaurin Art Gallery
Rozelle Estate
Ayr
KA7 4NQ
Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Sunday 12 noon to 5pm
The opening event will be on 25th March at 2pm and all members and friends are welcome to attend this.
Following on from the success of our mini paintings last year, we have included affordable mini paintings again this year.
SSBA Botanical Art Courses Information
The SSBA is delighted to announce that the SSBA Botanical Art Introductory and Intermediate courses in the south and north of Scotland are now available to apply for the April and May 2023 courses, or to note interest in the October 2023 and April 2024 courses.
The courses are available due to the award to the SSBA of the Finnis Scott Foundation Botanical Art Prize. This is a biennial prize of £10,000 awarded to support and promote the practice of botanical art.
The courses are open to SSBA members and members of the public who are interested in learning and developing their botanical art skills.
The courses will be provided free of charge to participants, although they will have to pay for their own travel, accommodation, breakfast, dinner and recommended art materials.
If you live in the south or north of Scotland, would you be interested in attending? Or do you know anyone who would like to learn or develop their skill?
More information is available in the attached information document and we encourage anyone interested to apply or note their interest (follow the links in the document).
SSBA Botanical Art Courses Information Click Here