Botanical illustration with Bridget Gillespie

Join RHS Gold medallist Bridget Gillespie for a two day course in botanical illustration.

The course covers plant observation, drawing, composition and watercolour techniques alongside demonstrations and individual tuition.

Maximum number of students per course – 10

For full details and to book, contact Bridget here.

Cost – £100.00 including non refundable £20.00 deposit. All students will receive a gift voucher from Helmsley Walled Garden to spend on plants in our Plant Centre.

About Bridget

Born in 1962 Bridget has been drawing and painting as long as she can remember. After taking a degree in Graphic Design at Middlesex Polytechnic she worked freelance in general graphics until a college friend requested a painting of her wedding bouquet. This led gradually to a specialism in Botanical work.

Bridget first exhibited at the RHS in 2002, gaining a Gold medal for paintings of Plums, several of which were purchased for the historic Lindley Library. A series of Pear paintings was awarded Gold in 2008. Her watercolours of the life cycle of Root vegetables gained a third Gold in 2017 and one was selected for inclusion in the International Collection of the Hunt Institute in Pittsburgh. A fourth Gold medal followed for ‘A Yorkshire Hedgerow’ in 2018.

She lives and works in North Yorkshire where she paints, teaches Botanical Illustration and gives illustrated talks in the history of the subject. She has featured in BBC ‘Autumn Watch’ and BBC World Service ‘The Food Chain.’ Bridget has taught at RHS Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and Harlow Carr as well as demonstrating techniques at RHS Lindley Hall. She has often worked with Helmsley Walled Gardens who have kindly provided specimens, teaching space and the opportunity to contribute to ‘The Northern Pomona – Apples for Cool Climates’, for which Bridget painted the 50 varieties of fruit and her work can be seen in ‘RHS Botanical Illustration – the Gold Medal Winners.’