Thursday 9th & Friday 10th October 2025
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost – £130, includes lunch and materials
Materials are included to use in the class, you can bring your own if you wish.
The Walled Garden at the Hugo Burge Foundation is filled with beautiful planting and a mixture of older and contemporary art. What better place to start, or develop your journey into botanical art? At the home of the late celebrated botanical artist Rory McEwen and art collector and supporter Hugo Burge, all maintained and being developed by the wonderful garden team led by Toby Loveday.
Marianne will talk (briefly) about the history of botanical illustration, give you some insights into her artistic practice, and take you through some basic steps to get started with your own botanical art piece, with watercolour paints and equipment provided.
You will start with a stroll through the Walled Garden, where you can choose and pick your specimens. Marianne will then give you a brief introduction to botanical illustration in the glasshouse, and then show you how to make preparatory sketches, you will discover how to closely observe your specimens, to learn about their structure and botany, and how to transfer your refined sketches onto watercolour paper. You will colour-match to your specimens, working with watercolour to match shades and tones, and then you will begin to paint.
The day’s activities will be accompanied by examples of Marianne’s botanical artworks.
Lunches will be served in the Glasshouse Kitchen & Dining Rooms.
We expect each day to last about six hours (incl lunch). Accurate botanical illustration is a slow, careful and meditative process, so expect to take your painting home to finish.
These courses are subsidised by the Hugo Burge Foundation. If you would like to attend but find cost to be a barrier for you, please contact emma@hugoburgefoundation.org to enquire about funded spots.