......making learning at a distance easier
Botanical Art Online Dianne Sutherland
Welcome to Botanical Art Online! Here, you can explore a variety of tutorials and courses tailored to your individual needs. Whether you're looking to learn new skills or refine your existing ones, you'll find options that suit your goals. Study independently or enjoy personalised support and mentoring—all from the comfort of your home—with guidance from Dianne Sutherland, a botanical artist with over 30 years of experience.
BROWSE COURSES AND TUTORIALS
FULL COURSES: For beginners, intermediate and advanced levels
TUTORIALS: Learn at your own pace
View the Student Gallery and stories and check the Blog for news
Latest News and Offers
The Botanical Illustration Course: The next course will begin July 31st 2025 BOOK NOW
MY NEW BOOK, SKETCHING NATURE: The Beginners Guide to Keeping a Botanical Sketchbook is available to pre-order now from Amazon and other booksellers. The release date is May 6th 2025. CLICK HERE for more information and stockists, which will be updated as I learn of more.
NEW TUTORIAL: Step into Spring with Narcissus and Yellow Mixing
This tutorial will be out April 7th and there will be several different flowers to paint over the first few weeks (it includes some of those tricky leaves too!). You can pre book now with discount from today until the 5th April, Click here for more. The final piece will be Poeticus or similar on coloured paper!
I will be returning to Clos Mirabel, in Pau, France - to teach a class on Sketchbooks and Techniques in April 2026 Click here to go to the website
AVAILABLE ONLINE TAUGHT COURSES (scroll down for tutorials)
These are longer courses with tutor assessed assignments and exercises. Individual feedback is given and support tailored to your needs.
Beginners in Botanical Art
'Starting Small'
Begin your journey into botanical art today by starting small. Available for immediate start
Price £420
Intermediate level
NEW DATE Starts: July 31st 2025 - Book your place now.
Learn to become a botanical artist and illustrator
Price £550
Work towards becoming a professional artist. Five slots per year
Acceptance on application
Price £950
TUTORIALS: BUILDING SKILLS - Start today! No deadline to complete
Non-assessed online video and web based tutorials. Start anytime and keep access for as long as you like. Learn the skills needed to become a botanical artist. Choose from the longer tutorials or mini tutorials. Log in details are emailed automatically when the purchase is made.
To find out about more Tutorials or Mini Tutorials, click here or on the images below.
Available now, cost £55
Available now, cost: £55
Available now, cost £55
NEW MINI TUTORIALS - Bite size learning with individual projects
Available now Nest and egg on coloured paper.
Retain access for 12 months.
Available now
Retain access for 12 months.
Butterfly tutorial and how to make vellum like paper. Only £20
Available NOW
Retain access for 12 months.
How to draw and paint an autumn oak leaf. Cost £20
Click to find out more
Available NOW
Retain access for 12 months.
Painting with white on black plus a tonal study and more. Cost £25
Click to find out more
Available now
Retain access.
How to paint a Fritillaria meleagris flower
Price £20
Click to find out more
Available now
Retain access for 12 months.
How to paint Amanita muscaria fungi
Price £20
Click to find out more
NEW! Painting Lichens
Due out 7th January 2025
Cost £40 Pre-book for just £30 today
with the discount code:
January-Start!
Click to find out more
How Does Online Learning Work?
Full Courses
Once you sign up for a course, your place confirmed within 48 hours. Before the course start date you will be issued with a password to access the 'Student Area'. All materials for your course are accessible online, you can view or print off learning materials as PDF's and access step-by-step videos and other resources. In addition there is an optional private social networking Facebook group for students that wish to participate in discussions etc. I'm available by email for general questions and support and also for one to one Zoom sessions (by request). Each course is delivered in manageable parts and at the end of each part you submit work electronically via email and receive comprehensive feedback which is digitally edited to show you how and where to make improvements.
Collectively these methods work to reduce the isolation felt by some students when studying a distance learning programmes.
Tutorials
Tutorials are written as stand alone learning experience, although there is no tutor feedback they have with downloadable texts and many videos to support you.
Access to the tutorials is available at any time, following receipt of payment you will receive your log in details. You can then access the downloadable PDF's and videos on the password protected web page.
You can work through the exercises at your own pace and retain access to the tutorials for a log as you like, which means you can revisit as many times as you like and benefit from updates and new videos etc. See the available tutorials page for more information on each available tutorial. Click here
My Approach to Teaching
IMPROVING OBSERVATION: comes first, deconstructing the subject into manageable parts, shapes, angles and sections ensures accurate drawing. Understanding colour and form and how it interacts with light are all part of our learning. Then translating those observations on to paper or vellum.
MATERIALS: we all need to know about the best available materials and how to use them, this is often overlooked, so I try to keep on top of the availability and changes that might occur.
TECHNIQUES & THEORY: are at the core of my teaching method, they are the building blocks for success in both drawing and painting, which is why I've made so many tutorials on technique. they are the things that I wish someone had taught me when I was starting out
KNOW YOUR SUBJECT: I always encourage students to study the subject, dig deep and learn about the family, those key features are all important.
FEEDBACK: Personalised feedback ia always provided on the courses with digital editing of your work where necessary. Turnaround time is around 3-4 weeks. Resubmission is permitted as there is little point in moving on, if you're not ready, we are all different and I keep thing. There no feedback with tutorials but I try to provide as much information as possible to increase the level of success.
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT: encouragement and support for your individual learning needs, allowing you to develop your own style an artist, rather that teaching you to copy.
A small sample of free videos - yes it all begins with sharpening your pencil!
Click here to download a free materials list
Here are my recommended materials for any botanical artist. A fairly limited palette, brushes, paper, pencils etc.
It's what I use for all my work!
Check the Blog for news and free mini tutorials as well as my You Tube Channels
