BUDDING ARTISTS
Tutorials in the Chelsea Physic Garden
The graphic designer Elaine Searle initially tried botanical art as a hobby, and was immediately transfixed by the craft’s unique precision and the peacefulness that comes from depicting plants. ‘I am naturally an anxious person, but when I paint I can feel the stress seeping away.’ Now, as well as travelling across the world to teach and exhibit, she runs a series of short courses at the Chelsea School of Botanical Art. Based in the verdant surroundings of the Chelsea Physic Garden, the school offers an array of choices for students, from lessons on drawing fruit and summer blossoms to a two-year, internationally renowned diploma. teresa fitzherbert www.chelseaschoolofbotanicalart.co.uk