Talks and Lectures
As a Design Historian, I have lectured for many years in various aspects of
art and design. My particular areas of interest are the history of
garden design and botanical illustration. Talks and lectures can be arranged on individual artists or illustrators, practical painting and drawing techniques, good wildlife practice in your garden and the life-cycles of insects and how to paint them.
I have lectured for groups such as The National Trust for Scotland and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh and St Andrews and to many art clubs and botanical societies.
Courses & Lectures
Below is a sample of the courses I teach throughout the year.
Drawing Techniques
I firmly believe that the best work will come from getting the basics right in your observation. Although it is tempting to jump straight in with a paintbrush, beginners and non-beginners will always benefit from being able to draw accurately. In this short course, or day-long workshop, we will look at using the correct pencils and papers for certain effects, measured drawing, free hand accuracy and inventive use of materials.
Painting with Miniature Brushes
I paint primarily with miniature brushes, even for very large A0 compositions. They can be incredibly frustrating to use but allow for a precisely accurate recording of detail. In this course we will look at a choice of brushes, papers and painting techniques to get the best out of your own style.
Understanding Watercolour
It is a pity that a good composition can be ruined by a poor understanding of the properties of watercolour. For example, a yellow paint can be opaque or transparent, smooth or granular, warm or cool. Choosing the correct paint and paper will make all the difference to your finished piece. We will look at different watercolour techniques such as wet-on-wet and dry brush, focusing on colour theory. This course can be painted with miniature or full-size brushes .
Coloured Pencil
Oil and wax pencils are a superb medium for those who enjoy detailed work but find miniature watercolour brushes difficult. As building up a useful supply of these materials can be quite expensive, a day or weekend-long course can be an excellent way to see if you enjoy the medium. We will look at the basic technique, along with blending, layering and colour-mixing.
Egg Tempera Painting
The luminous beauty created by egg tempera painting is addictive. Although it can take years to master, the basic skills of egg tempera are easy to learn and great fun to practice. Learn how to mix your own paint from powder pigment and egg yolk, grinding the paint to create wonderful colours. Make your own gesso boards for painting upon and practice the techniques to produce your own miniature masterpiece.
Painting Bees and Butterflies
Using miniature brushes and watercolour, learn how to paint convincing insects from real-life specimens. We concentrate on brushstrokes, luminous and transparent effects and how to bring specimens to life on the paper. These tiny paintings are quick and fun to create and by the end of the course you will have created quite a natural history collection.
A Family Portrait with a Difference
Using the Latin or common names of various flowers, create a family portrait using the names of your loved ones. Illustrated, left, is Rosa ANNE, Eleagnus FREDrici, St JOHN’s Wort, Herb ROBERT and Tulipa GORDON. Create a unique and very personal gift or just a fond momento for yourself.
The Language of Flowers
Many flowers and plants were ascribed special meanings from the Georgian to Victorian period, creating a craze for secret messaging between friends and lovers. This popular course allows you to create a special, even private message, for a loved one. Using a dictionary of the language of the flowers, we create a composition that works as a beautiful painting, but with a hidden meaning.​
As a Design Historian, I have lectured for many years in various aspects of
art and design. My particular areas of interest are the history of
garden design and botanical illustration. Talks and lectures can be arranged on individual artists or illustrators, practical painting and drawing techniques, good wildlife practice in your garden and the life-cycles of insects and how to paint them.
I have lectured for groups such as The National Trust for Scotland and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh and St Andrews and to many art clubs and botanical societies.