2026 Programme
Each masterclass is limited to 10 places.
Suitable for Intermediate to Advanced botanical students only.
Jackie Isard
Jackie Isard is a Fellow member of the Society of Botanical Artists and an RHS Gold medal winner. She is a self-taught artist with a great passion for painting flowering plants, meadow wildflowers and pollinators. Her work is very detailed and botanically accurate. In 2021 she wrote her first book on the subject of colour mixing for botanical artists. Jackie has paintings held in the RHS Lindley Library, The Shirley Sherwood Collection and The Hunt Institute.
Wednesday, 18 and Thursday, 19 February 2026
Pen and Ink with Watercolour Wash
Using Uni-pin fine liners we will make drawings of plants or nature subjects, learning how to apply texture using dots or line to create form. Watercolour will be applied as washes of toned colour afterwards to create a beautiful painting.
Saturday, 25 and Sunday, 26 July 2026
Achieving Colour Vibrancy and Contrast
This class will concentrate on colour theory and how to achieve vibrancy and good contrast. Jackie will talk about pigment and will demonstrate the technique of layering , using shadow tones and contrasts.
Janie Pirie
Janie Pirie is one of the UK’s leading coloured pencil artists. She holds two Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medals and one Silver Gilt for her work, together with Certificates of Botanical Merit from the Society of Botanical Artists, of which she is a Fellow. She is also a Fellow of The Linnean Society and her work is held by The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and by Kew Gardens.
Janie is a Gold Member of the UK Coloured Pencil Society.
Janie’s meticulous and beautifully detailed work shows the depth of skill she has with the coloured pencil.
Wednesday, 8 to Friday, 10 April 2026
The Glory of Spring - Magnolias
We will create beautiful botanical drawing of the magnolia tree - buds, flowers, and leaves.
Sally Pond
“I had always loved painting, doing art A level and later painting for my own pleasure, inevitably being drawn to the natural world. In 2009, I enrolled on the Botanical Painting course with Helen Allen at the Chelsea Physic Garden, graduating with distinction in 2011.
“I find my inspiration in English flora, painting what is around me through the seasons. My work has become more complex and I particularly love to paint and draw trees and their annual cycle.
“Since 2013 I have been awarded 3 RHS silver-gilt medals, 2 Certificates of Botanical Merit and a Commendation for composition from the SBA.
“I belong to the SBA, the ASBA, the SWSBA, ABBA and Amicus Botanicus.”
Friday, 21 to Sunday, 23 August 2026
Native Trees - Bark, Buds and Leaves
We will create beautiful botanical paintings of native trees - bark, buds and leaves.
Mary Dillon
Mary Dillon is an Irish botanical artist. Preferring to work in large format, Mary enjoys capturing the essence of a plant with it’s sensuality and frailty. Colour, light and form fascinate her. Her work is exhibited internationally. Mary finds teaching botanical art particularly rewarding as it provides the perfect opportunity to bring together her three passions of watercolour painting, plants and working with people.
Wednesday, 28 to Friday, 30 October 2026
Painting with Light
Taking autumnal bounty such as seedpods, chestnuts and fruits as our focus, we can explore how our use of light can enhance the textures we see in our subjects, bringing life and impact to our painting.
To reserve your place, please email Susan at susan@castlefamily.eu
Total cost of masterclass to be paid in full on booking. Cancellation within 12 weeks of the course will be charged in full, if a class is cancelled due to tutor illness or unforeseen circumstances, you will be offered a full refund.