Tutor: Janie Pirie
Date: Tuesday 03 March 2026 - Thursday 05 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £110
Location: Online

This course is designed for those who wish to improve their coloured pencil technique in a supportive, online setting. Working from a supplied image of crab apples, you will learn how to capture shape, colour, and texture with confidence. Step-by-step guidance and individual feedback will help you refine your skills, making this an ideal course for anyone who enjoys drawing but prefers a structured subject to work from.

Tutor: Lizzie Harper
Date: Tuesday 24 March 2026 - Thursday 26 March 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom


This three-day workshop offers an in-depth exploration of pen and ink drawing, using plants from the Botanic Garden as inspiration. You will begin with exercises in observing shadows and tonal differences, then experiment with stippling – the intricate technique of creating tone and depth through thousands of tiny dots. Although time-intensive, stippling produces striking results. We will also touch on how a light wash of watercolour can add subtle colour to these traditionally monochrome works. Along the way, you will learn how to care for your hands and eyes during long sessions of detailed work. The course is suitable for all levels and provides the chance to focus deeply on this meditative and rewarding art form.

Tutor: Janie Pirie
Date: Tuesday 07 April 2026 - Thursday 09 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom


In this course we will shift the focus from flowers to leaves, giving them the attention they deserve in botanical illustration. Using coloured pencils, you will learn how to observe and record the fine details of a wide variety of leaves. Through demonstrations and individual guidance, you will discover what details to include or leave out, how to choose and blend colours effectively, and how to achieve a striking three-dimensional appearance on paper. This course is suitable for all levels and will enhance your skills in botanical drawing by building confidence in rendering leaves with care and accuracy.

Tutor: Lizzie Harper
Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026 – Thursday 21 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom

In this two-day workshop, you will explore the beauty of blue and purple flowers in bloom at the Botanic Garden in late spring. We will begin with drawing exercises and tonal studies before moving on to colour mixing, learning how to create a wide range of blues, purples, and fresh leaf greens in watercolour. With guidance, you will then illustrate one or more flowers, choosing from irises, lupins, flax, brunnera, bugle, catmint, forget-me-nots, cranesbill, and more. The course includes both classroom study and time outdoors in the Garden. Suitable for all levels, this is an inspiring introduction to capturing the subtleties of botanical colour and form in watercolour.

Tutor: Janie Pirie
Date: Tuesday 09 June 2026 - Thursday 11 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom

Often overlooked, there are many beautiful wildflowers, 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 - the list is endless. Group demonstrations and individual tuition will be given throughout.

Tutor: Lizzie Harper
Date: Tuesday 07 July 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Spend the day with botanical illustrator Lizzie Harper, creating pen and ink or pencil line drawings of beautiful, and often overlooked, grasses. Lizzie will be joined by Dr Raphaella Hull, Acting Head of Learning at CUBG, to learn more about the structure and variety of grasses, showcasing examples in the Botanic Garden. All levels welcome.

Tutor: Reinhild Raistrick
Date: Tuesday 11 August 2026 - Thursday 13 August 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom

On this three day course you will have the time to create a beautiful portrait from a selection of some of the spectacular flowers that grace the Garden at this time of year. There might be a choice of lilies, late roses and some of the varied daisy family, such as Helianthus, Heleniums and Echinaceas.

Reinhild will help you to choose and arrange the stems on the page to create a colourful and exciting composition. This will be done by planning the outlay in pencil in your sketch book or cartridge paper. A detailed drawing can be done and then transferred onto the watercolour paper, using a light box which in the classroom. Or some might prefer to draw straight onto the watercolour paper ready for painting.

You will be guided in the use of watercolours, using wet-in-wet techniques or some dry brush work. Reinhild will use a combination of group demonstrations, but in particular individual tuition, to help you improve your drawing and painting techniques.

Tutor: Penny Price
Date: Wednesday 16 September 2026 - Friday 18 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom


In this three-day course, you’ll create a delicate flower painting - no larger than A4 - set within an elegant drawn border filled with a gold gilded background. Working from real flowers, you’ll explore how to observe, sketch, and compose a harmonious design featuring one or more blooms of your choice.

You’ll begin by studying your chosen flowers through detailed sketches, refining your composition before transferring it to smooth watercolour paper. Step by step, you’ll learn techniques for accurate drawing, controlled watercolour painting, and applying gold to achieve a radiant finish.

All materials and full instructions will be provided. This course is suitable for all skill levels - from complete beginners to experienced artists - offering both group demonstrations and individual guidance throughout.

Tutor: Janie Pirie
Date: Tuesday 06 October 2026 - Thursday 08 October 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £210
Location: Classroom


Capture the beauty of autumn in this three-day course with botanical artist Janie Pirie. Crisp autumn leaves - rich in shades of yellow, orange, amber, red, brown and copper - offer wonderful opportunities to explore colour, form, and texture. You’ll study and draw dried leaves in detail, using coloured pencil to bring them to life. By the end of the course, you’ll have created a beautiful page of autumn leaves.

All abilities welcome. Group demonstrations and individual tuition will be provided throughout.

Tutor: Vicky Hallam
Date: Thursday 19 November 2026 - Friday 20 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


On this two-day course, we will be working from life to illustrate the wonderful colours and textures found on fruits in coloured pencil. The course will begin with a drawing exercise where you will have the opportunity to learn how to create textures, such as shine on a pomegranate, bloom on a blueberry, the waxy textured skin on an avocado and the juicy interior of a citrus fruit.

Following on from our exploratory morning you will have the opportunity to choose your subject matter to work on for the remainder of the course. With Vicky’s guidance, you will learn about composition and practice your observational drawing skills. Technical colour pencil techniques will be taught so you can create a realistic depiction of your fruit.

This course will have a relaxed learning environment where everyone is welcome from beginner to those with more advanced experience.