Botanical Painting Diploma Course - 2013 Scholarship

The English Gardening School in Chelsea is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2013 by offering a scholarship opportunity worth £4,950.

The EGS is inviting applications by 31st October to identify a person who is both committed to becoming a botanical artist and who can take up a complimentary place on their renowned Botanical Painting Diploma Course.  The scholarship covers the fee payable for the one year part-time course.

Painting botanical art in watercolour at the English Gardening School

What's on offer?

The focus of English Gardening School in Chelsea is the provision of a range of professional and amateur courses which are all about the more serious aspects of gardening. Those courses which are more advanced - such as the Diploma Course - are the sort of courses that people might do if they want to make their career in this field.

The Diploma Course is offered as a part time one-year course. The structure of the course is designed to enable the scholarship winner to develop the necessary observational and drawing skills which enable the accurate illustration of plant material in watercolours - within a historical and scientific context.

The Diploma Course comprises:

• Learning about the principles of botanical painting.  Teaching includes
• a series of highly structured exercises relating to drawing techniques, basic and advanced watercolour painting techniques, composition and aesthetics, botany and the study of a plant family
• visits to galleries and museums - including the Library, Herbarium and Shirley Sherwood Gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and RHS Lindley Library and Picture Library.
• The Diploma is taught by leading botanists and botanical painters, including:
• Helen Allen BA (Hons) PGCert Ed, Dip EGS, FLS – Course Director One Year Botanical Painting
• Mariella Baldwin Dip EGS, MA
• Sarah Gould Dip LA (Glos), Dip UD
• Angeline de Meester BA (Hons), Dip EGS, FLS, SBA
• Lucy T. Smith BVA (Hons), MCA
• The one year part-time course starts in January and has three 10 week terms - with a week-long half term.  Classes are held every Monday from 10.30am to 3.15pm during term-time. 

Tuition in botanical watercolour painting at the English Gardening School

How to enter

Who can enter? The criteria is both broad and narrow.

• Entrants do not need to have previous experience of botanical painting.
• However the EGS will expect that whoever starts the course will understand what's involved and will be able to complete the Diploma Course.  Hence you can expect the selectors to be looking for a high level of commitment. 

Closing date for entry:  All submissions must be received by 31st October 2012

What's required:  Each entry MUST state:

1. In 100 words or less - tell us about the botanical artists who most inspire you and why. 
2. In one sentence - describe a botanical subject you would really enjoy painting. 
3. In 100 words or less -  What would winning this scholarship mean to you?

How to enter:  Post your submission to Mary Ellen Taylor, The English Gardening School, Chelsea Wharf, 15 Lots Road, London SW10 0 QJ

More information on The English Gardening School

• Address: 2-3 Chelsea Wharf, 15 Lots Road, London SW10 0QJ
• email: infoATenglishgardeningschoolDOTcoDOTuk 
• Telephone: 0207 352 4347 
• Website: www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk.