Tutor: John Wiltshire
Date: 23 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


On this beginners’ course, you will explore watercolour techniques and make an observational painting in the Botanic Garden. You will be guided through the basics of watercolour technique with simple and effective demonstrations to experience and learn how it works with professional painter, John Wiltshire. By the end of the day, you may surprise yourself with what you can achieve with the right materials and some practical tips to boost your confidence with watercolour. Materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring any materials that you would prefer to use.

Suitable for complete beginners

Tutor: Susie Turner
Date: Thursday 02 July 2026 - Friday 03 July 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £170
Location: Classroom


Discover the historic photographic process of cyanotype printing in this two-day workshop. You’ll learn how to create striking blue-and-white prints using your own photographs, drawings, and pressed plant material. Guidance on preparing artwork in advance will be provided. On the first day, you’ll create test prints to understand timing and exposure with both sunlight and UV light. You will learn how to mix the cyanotype sensitiser solution and to individually coat suitable paper before producing your own unique botanical compositions.

Day two will build on these foundations, introducing creative techniques such as masking and double exposures. We will be looking at the cyanotypes of Anna Atkins as inspiration; a rare copy of her book ‘Sun Gardens’ will be available to look through. On the second day, there will also be an opportunity to make cyanotypes on supplied blueprint fabric pieces. Cyanotype is a simple, accessible, and rewarding process. Some standing and movement between indoor and outdoor areas is involved. Aprons and household gloves are recommended, as the sensitiser solution may stain clothing.

No previous experience is required

Tutor: Grace Hailstone
Date: Friday 19 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Cost: £45
Location: Classroom


Make unique monoprints exploring silhouettes of leaves and ‘ghost prints’ using a miniature etching press. Working with positive and negative shapes, spacing and texture, we will create unique original prints on cotton-based paper using real leaves and materials. Participants can bring collected organic materials to print with, but materials will also be provided. We will begin with making simple silhouettes, then expand to create multi-layered images full of organic shapes and textures. Image sizes will be a maximum of 10 cm.

Suitable for complete beginners

Tutors: Studio 84
Date: Thursday 16 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £90
Location: Classroom


Drypoint etching is a centuries-old intaglio printmaking process. Environmentally safe and without the use of any chemicals, the image is scratched into the surface of the plate using a drypoint needle.
Gathering inspiration from the wealth of flora in the Botanic Garden, you will collect, sketch or photograph leaves and flowers to create a botanical image. You will transform this into a drypoint etching and learn how to ink and print your image on a small, table-top press. Developing your work throughout the day you will create multiple, varied prints using a seasonal colour palette. The beauty of this technique is that you do not need any drawing skills or prior knowledge to create a beautiful print. All printing materials will be provided and etching needles will be available to use. Gloves and cleaning materials will be supplied but you will need to bring an apron or similar.

The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as those with some experience.

Tutor: John Wiltshire
Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


This course is designed to build on your existing experience with watercolour and provide you with tools which will help you continue to grow as a watercolour painter. Over the session, you will be introduced to various approaches and methods to apply your own painterly vision to your practice. We will look at the Botanic Garden and how to approach this exciting and vibrant subject for yourself ‘en plein air’. You will be briefly revisiting the basics of watercolour technique and introduced to practical applications of a limited palette technique. Materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring any materials that you would prefer to use.

Suitable for those with some experience of watercolour

Tutor: Karin Eklund
Date: Tuesday 21 April 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Keeping a sketchbook is the best habit an artist can have. The more you draw from reality the easier it will be to develop your own style and compositions. Using the Garden and Glasshouse Range as your starting points, Karin will give creative prompts to introduce new materials and techniques throughout the course: looking carefully at plants, drawing from observation and gradually introducing elements of imagination, memory and found materials. The day will start with a short introductory talk introducing examples of botanical drawings from art history and by contemporary artists. Through these examples, we will gain inspiration and be given a focus and theme for the session before heading out in the Garden. It is up to you how you interpret and develop your ideas. You can expect a joyful, creative and explorative approach set in a friendly and informative atmosphere. Mostly we will be working in our sketchbooks, and a suggested material list will be supplied a few weeks before the start of the course

Suitable for all abilities

Tutor: Emma James
Date: Thursday 12 November 2026 - Friday 13 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £170
Location: Classroom


Capture the Garden’s rich textures and seasonal colours in this creative two-day printmaking workshop. You will begin by exploring the Garden to gather photographs and sketches. Back in the Classroom, you will transform your images into a linocut design — carving, inking, and printing your work in a single colour. You’ll then learn how to combine printmaking with watercolour painting and tissue paper chine collé to add colour and new shapes to your print.
Materials and some tools will be available to use, but you will need your own set of lino cutting tools, as well as a box or folder to take away your prints.

The course is suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience of linocut techniques. The course requires fine motor skills, including the ability to use a lino tool and craft knife to cut lino.

Tutor: Dan Mold
Date: Thursday 07 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Discover the magic of macro photography and unlock a whole new world of hidden details - usually invisible to the naked eye. This course is aimed at photographers of all levels from those just starting out to advanced enthusiasts and will help you understand the equipment needed and techniques you’ll need to master to get cracking close-ups you can be proud of and print on the wall or enter into photography competitions. Using the beautiful flora and fauna of the Botanic Garden to hone in on, Dan will demonstrate how to get pin-sharp shots of delicate flower details and the tiny eyes of insects with both professional and budget-friendly kit as well as explain how to light your subjects and using accessories such as reversing rings, extension tubes, LED panels, reflectors, tripods and plamps. Ideally bring either a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a dedicated macro lens, but Dan will bring a variety of equipment for demonstration. This course is not suitable for mobile phone cameras.

Suitable for all abilities.

Tutor: Ian Olsson
Date: Tuesday 08 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


Move from a quick snap in fully auto mode to creating beautiful photos you would love to print and hang on the wall! Join Cambridge-based professional photographer Ian Olsson for a fun, interactive workshop to learn all about phone photography and editing. Including a walk around the Garden to take your own photos, which you can then edit during the session.

Suitable for Android and iPhone.

Tutor: Susie Turner
Date: Wednesday 04 November 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £85
Location: Classroom


This one-day workshop will introduce you to the simple technique of monoprinting with leaves. Using collected and pressed leaves from the Botanic Garden, you will learn how to make unique, colourful handmade prints using non-porous plates, a small etching press and artist quality printing inks. There will be opportunities to print onto both pre-dampened printing paper and samples of fabric.

The technique is very easy to learn and no previous experience is necessary.

Tutor: John Wiltshire
Date: Tuesday 02 June 2026 - Wednesday 03 June 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


On this two-day course in oil painting technique, professional artist John Wiltshire will demonstrate techniques and approaches to oil painting in the open air. With enough time to create your own painting this is a rare opportunity to work in the beautiful, historic setting of the Botanic Garden and explore oil painting over an extended period. Use the techniques of ‘il primatura’ and ‘a la prima’ painting and expect to learn some of the ‘tricks of the trade’ that will enhance and accelerate your own painting so that you will come away with practical insight into how to develop as a painter. Materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring any materials that you would prefer to use.

This course is suitable for beginners or those looking to improve their painting technique.

Tutor: Patsy Rathbone
Date: Thursday 14 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £90
Location: Classroom


Taking the natural environment of the Botanic Garden as inspiration, you will create original intaglio prints by using repurposed packaging as a printing plate. You will scratch, cut and peel away the surface to add texture, marks and lines. Utilising the character inherent in the recycled materials, you will be encouraged to use the folds and shapes found in the packaging, as an integral part of the print. You will learn how to ink and print your image on a small, table-top press. Developing your work throughout the day using a limited colour palette to create multiple, varied prints. All printing materials will be provided and tools will be available to use. Gloves and cleaning materials will be supplied but please wear old clothes or bring an apron. Feel free to bring your own packaging to try.

The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as those with some experience

Tutor: Emma James
Date: Tuesday 29 September 2026 - Wednesday 30 September 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £170
Location: Classroom


Celebrate the beauty of autumn in this two-day printmaking workshop inspired by the colours and textures of the season. Begin by exploring the Garden to sketch and photograph autumnal scenes, gathering inspiration for your own linocut design. Guided by the tutor, you’ll plan, carve, and print a three-layer reduction linocut, capturing the rich tones of your chosen scene. Materials and some tools will be available to use, but you will need to bring your own set of lino cutting tools, as well as a box or folder to take away your prints.

The course is suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience of linocut techniques. Fine motor skills are required, along with the ability to safely use a lino tool and craft knife to cut lino.

Tutor: Karin Eklund
Date: Saturday 16 May 2026 - Sunday 17 May 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Cost: £155
Location: Classroom


Join illustrator Karin Eklund for an immersive weekend exploring drawing techniques, tailored for all levels. Both sessions will start with time in the Garden, where we'll engage in short observational drawing sessions, followed by time in our on-site Classroom where we will delve into various aspects of illustration, including composition, character design and creating captivating environments. Karin will offer creative prompts and share a selection of picture books to inspire your artistic endeavours and encourage you to mix your imagination and memories to create visual stories with the Garden as your backdrop. By the end of the weekend, you will have developed multiple sketches and a few finalised illustrations and might even come away with the seeds of a new book idea. It is up to you how you interpret and develop your ideas. You can expect a joyful, creative and explorative approach set in a friendly and informative atmosphere.

This course is suitable for all abilities