Botanical pen and ink: Intermediate

Join this course to learn pen and ink drawing techniques from a professional botanical artist.

Black and white botanical illustration of New Guinea palm species, depicting detailed leaves, flower buds, seed clusters, and cross-sections of fruit

Date and time

2 to 4 November 2026

10.30am to 4pm

Location

Botanical Brasserie Courtyard, Kew Gardens

Nearest gate: Victoria Gate

Price

£370

£360 for Kew members

Price includes entry to the Gardens

Materials List

During this three-day course, we will draw a complex subject in pencil, before rendering it in pen and ink using line and a choice of tonal rendering techniques.

Flower dissection and the enlargement of details will be introduced.

We will also study the work of Kew’s botanical illustrators with a tour of the Herbarium, and selected works from the Library, Art and Archives Collection of botanical artwork from the past 250 years.

About the tutor

Lucy T Smith is a freelance botanical artist who has been based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for twenty-four years.

She has received international recognition and awards for her work, including the Jill Smythies Award for Botanical Illustration from the Linnean Society of London and two gold medals from the Royal Horticultural Society. Her scientific illustration work has been recognised by her receipt of First Prize in the Margaret Flockton Award for Scientific Illustration, from the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. 

Represented in the Shirley Sherwood collection.

As well as freelance work, Lucy produces illustrations and paintings for private commissions and exhibitions.

Important information

Close up of artist painting a tree on paper

Botanical watercolour: Intermediate

Develop your skills in botanical watercolour with artist Lucy Smith