Botanical Illustration Workshop: Autumn at Leonardslee
8 October | 10:00 – 16:00
Our botanical illustration workshop will teach you how to draw and illustrate a unique piece of art from start to finish. Professional botanical artist Leigh Ann, who is part of our Leonardslee Florilegium, will guide you step-by-step to produce accurate initial drawings. These will then be transferred to specialist watercolour paper before using watercolours and/or pencils to bring your illustration to life. Please see the materials participants must bring.
You will be working from a selection of seasonal autumnal foliage, fruits, berries, seed pods, hips and haws which have been collected from Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens.
This workshop is suitable for all abilities and allows participants to work at their own pace. With plenty of help and guidance, including demonstrations during the workshop highlighting specific drawing and painting techniques suitable for the art of botanical illustration.
A break for lunch will be taken with afternoon tea (scones with cream and jam, a sandwich, a slice of cake and a tea or coffee per person). Please email info@leonardsleegardens.co.uk if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.
Discover Botanical Illustration Summer at Leonardslee & Leonardslee Florilegium
£70 per person | 10% off for Leonardslee members
Garden entry included | Limited space available | Tea and coffee provided in room throughout the workshop | Materials participants must bring | FREE parking for Leonardslee members | Parking information
Materials participants must bring:
Watercolours (min, red, blue and yellow) and/or coloured pencils (including water-soluble if you wish)
Graphite pencils 2H, H, HB
Rag (preferably lint free)
Putty rubber or good quality eraser
Hot pressed watercolour paper 300g/m2 (140lb) (this can also be purchased from the tutor for a small amount, usually £2.50 depending on size)
Tracing paper
Scissors, magic-tape or low-grade adhesive tape (useful but not essential)
Sable watercolour brushes with good points e.g. size 0 and size 3
Cartridge paper for drawing
About Leigh Ann Gale
A professional botanical artist, tutor, and author, Leigh Ann began her artistic career as a graphic designer after graduating from Ravensbourne art college with a BA (Hons) in Visual Communication in 1989. Following a move to Sussex, she took up botanical illustration and in 2004 completed a diploma in Botanical Art and Illustration at the English Gardening School, Chelsea Physic Garden, London. This was followed in 2008 with a post graduate teaching certificate.
Over the years Leigh Ann has been awarded medals for her work and has exhibited extensively around the world. Many of her paintings are held in private collections in the UK and around the world, including the Royal Archives and the permanent collection at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh, USA.
Leigh Ann has extensive experience of working with, and contributing botanical artwork to several florilegia, including The Florilegium Society at Sydney Botanic Gardens, Australia; the Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Society and the Nymans Florilegium in Sussex. Recently, she has played a pivotal role in establishing the newly formed Florilegium here at Leonardslee.
Teaching botanical art has become a passion for Leigh Ann. She tutors a wide range of botanical art and illustration courses and workshops at various locations throughout Sussex, Surrey, and south London and from her home near Horsham. With her wealth of experience, she is renowned for her encouraging and supportive approach to teaching students of all abilities and is a highly regarded mentor and adviser on the art of botanical painting.
Leigh Ann has written two books published by The Crowood Press: ‘Botanical Illustration – the complete guide’ (2018) and ‘Colour for Botanical Artists and Illustrators’ (2021). She has recently been commissioned to write a third book, ‘Drawing & Painting Leaves’ due for publication in 2024.
To discover more about Leigh Ann, please visit: