Who are WSBI?

Flight --  The Brown Hawk Dragonfly

2 days  20th & 21st April 

Cath Hodsman is an artist and illustrator, who has a passion for painting and drawing insects. She was recently made a member of the Society of Biology and is a registered tutor for the Royal West of England Academy. 

For availability, pricing and  booking information please contact the WSBI website

PATTERN IN NATURE

1 Day Saturday 25th May

 Originally Billy trained in fashion design and illustration, she quickly turned to her first love, painting and illustration. Her works are distinguishable by her striking, fluid and sometimes unusual compositions; she has won various botanical awards, an RHS SGM, 7 SBA Certificates of Botanical Merit and a gold medal from the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society as well as many awards for ‘People’s Choice’. Billy’s work is held at Kew Botanic gardens, the Hunt Institute USA and one in the Shirley Sherwood collection; her work is also held in many private collectors worldwide.  

Alongside Billy’s painting and illustrating, she is also a prolific teacher. Teaching at her studio and regularly across the UK as well as America, Russia and Australia and many more. Passionate about sharing her tips and skills, Billy has produced four best-selling books on her painting style. 

For  availability, pricing and booking information please contact the WSBI website.

Coloured Pencil Tactile Textures

1 Day Wednesday 10th July

 Ann works primarily in graphite and coloured pencil.  She is well known for her fine detail, vibrant colours and strong contemporary style. She favours the underdog or the unusual in the plant world, drawing our attention to their beauty through her striking compositions. She is constantly experimenting with her chosen medium, trying to achieve a more painterly effect and ever brighter colours and has recently started a series of ‘Larger than Life’ images magnifying small sections of plants and pushing the boundaries of botanical art a bit further. 

 Ann is passionate about coloured pencils believing they are easy to master, forgiving and accessible so that even a complete beginner can very quickly produce work of quality. Recently retired from many years exhibiting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and judging on the RHS Picture Panel she now devotes her energies to teaching and is happy to pass on all her techniques and knowledge. She runs workshops at her studio in Wiltshire, online and around the world including Europe, Africa and the USA although latterly these have mainly been on Zoom. 

Flowers from Tredegar House

2 Day 27th & 28th July

Jackie Isard is an award-winning botanical artist having won a Gold medal at RHS in 2022. She is passionate about painting and teaching. Based in Bristol, her delicate watercolours are much admired for their intricacy and detail. She teaches a regular Saturday group and various workshops in Abbots Leigh, Bristol. She also runs workshops with Society groups in the South West, Wales, Gloucestershire and other venues across the UK.

In 2022 Jackie completed her RHS exhibition entry entitled 'Wet Meadow Wildflowers ~ their pollinators and as food plants' and won a Gold medal. Two of her RHS paintings are now held in the RHS Lindlay Library and The Shirley Sherwood Collection. 

Graphite

1 Day Sunday 11th August

 Penny Brown is a highly experienced illustrator and a prize winning botanical artist who works in a variety of media to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world.  She works in watercolour, graphite cut paper collage. She has illustrated many books on craft, textiles, design, natural history and gardening.

For  availability, pricing and booking information please contact the WSBI website.