Join me in a beginner & intermediate class in botanical illustration at Netherby Hall

I’ll be back at Netherby Hall, in their gorgeous Victorian Walled Garden leading another botanical illustration experience. This year we are running a two-day botanical illustration class, with drawing on day one, and painting on day two. Take this chance to enjoy learning in their gorgeous garden, summer house and orangery, with time to experiment and develop your skills, beginner to intermediate. Lunch included.

Netherby Hall are offering a reduced rate on their stunning accommodation for the weekend to participants,  please get in touch if you are interested in booking accommodation.

Book by calling 01228 792732 or email bookings@netherbyhall.co.uk.

Netherby Hall, Longtown, Carlisle, United Kingdom

July 12 & 13 at 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Cost – £200 including lunch

Materials are included to use in the class, you can bring your own if you wish.

Netherby Hall Orangery, with a botanical illustration class lead by Marianne Hazlewood

Netherby Hall has an amazing Victorian Walled Garden

The Victorian Walled Garden has gone through recent refurbishments under the leadership of Head Gardener, Lorraine Pearson. The team at Netherby Hall are reinstating some of the original features and creating cutting beds and they supply The Penton Bridge Inn Michelin-starred restaurant with greens throughout the year.

I will talk about the history of botanical illustration, and give you some insights into my artistic practice, and will take you through some basic steps to get started with your own botanical art piece, with watercolour paints and equipment provided.

We will start the day with a brief introduction to botanical illustration in the Summer House*, and then take a stroll with Head Gardener Lorraine through the walled garden. There you can choose and pick your specimen from a selection of plants in our own cutting beds. I will then show you how to make preparatory sketches, you will discover how to closely observe your specimen to learn about its structure and botany, and how to transfer your refined sketches onto watercolour paper.

Lunch will be served in the Orangery at Netherby Hall, located within the main building.

Netherby Hall walled garden, a long walk to the Summer House with central pools and fountains
A class outside the summer house at Netherby Hall Walled Garden, ready to start drawing
Netherby Hall Summer House, set up for a botanical Illustration class
Netherby Hall walled garden, a long walk with central pools and fountains

Draw on day one, paint on day two

On day two, I will show you how to colour-match to your specimen, 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 my botanical artworks, along with a display of pictures of Netherby Hall, including the walled garden, Summer House and last year’s cutting beds in full bloom.

We expect each day to last about six hours. Accurate botanical illustration is a slow, careful and meditative process, so expect to take your painting home to finish. Please note you will be able to purchase some materials to take home to finish your artwork.

*Note that this is weather dependent, and we may move part of the sessions to indoor accommodation in the Orangery.

beginners' botanical illustration class
beginners' botanical illustration class
Netherby Hall in Summer