Botanical Illustration In Watercolour | Heidi Willis

Heidi is back in 2026!

Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned painter looking to refine and elevate your work, there’s so much to learn, explore and enjoy in this beautifully focused subject.

Australian born, Heidi Willis is an entirely self-taught Natural History watercolour artist, specialising in botanical illustration and bird painting. Her work intricately illustrates our native and exotic plants, flowers, fruits and seed capsules, whilst her powerful and distinctive portraits of our spectacular bird life offers viewers an insight into the world as she experiences it.

About this workshop

With a botanical focus, this workshop is designed to guide students through the painting process, giving the direction, tools, techniques and confidence needed to create stunningly detailed and realistic botanical illustrations in watercolour. 

• Watercolour Fundamentals: We’ll work through the essential watercolour techniques you need to improve and ultimately master your botanical work. Combining wash, layering or glazing, and dry brush detail, we learn to balance and refine these techniques to create rich, lively outcomes.
• Precision & Structure: From our drawing to completion, we learn how to really see your subject, exploring structure and form, colour, texture and detail, then translating this to a finished watercolour story.
• Refined Layering: Learn to see and develop your painting in layers, from gentle underwashes to crisp, controlled detail, capturing softness, translucency, texture and lifelike depth in your botanical work.
• Strategy & Pathways: Feeling overwhelmed with where to start? Im my workshops I give you a clear path to walk, comforted in the knowledge that what you practice, is on the right path to success.

What will I learn?

• Step-by-Step Demonstration: Through demonstration and guided practice, I’ll walk you through the process start to completion, customising the balance to your specific needs, for the best outcome possible.
• Expert Guidance: This is a fully immersive, practical workshop designed to help you build real skills and confidence. I’ll be with you throughout to answer questions, demonstrate techniques, and support your progress every step of the way.
• Explore, Connect & Create: Workshops are about more than just painting. They’re a space to slow down, reconnect, focus, and enjoy the deep satisfaction of making something with your own hands. There’s something incredibly fulfilling in capturing the quiet beauty of the botanical world, and taking a creative pause.
• Inspiration That Lasts: This workshop is designed to equip you not only with a finished painting, but with tools, techniques and inspiration you can carry forward into your own creative practice.

Who is this workshop suitable for?

This workshop is suitable for beginners to advanced or those that are looking for a refresher. 

Bonus Opportunity: For those eager to extend their creative journey, consider the adjoining Small Bird Illustration in Watercolour Workshop to your schedule for a full 5 days. It’s going to be an exciting and enriching creative experience and we can’t wait to see you there. 

What do I need to bring?

You can supply your own paints, brushes, graphite stick,  boards and paper or you can purchase in cash from Heidi on the day. $1 for the printed worksheets for the workshop.

Other Items to Bring:

• Pencil - 2B (PROGRESSO graphite stick, if possible)
• Mechanical pencil 0.5mm HB
• White plastic eraser
• Scotch 'magic' tape
• Small sketchpad, A4 Cartridge paper is fine, or just whatever you have.
• A Palette (KLIK Palette is recommended, Cavalier Art Supplies supplies stock these) Heidi uses 2 but 1 will be enough for a start.

Watercolours:

You can share Heidi's watercolours which will have the exact colours you will need for the workshop for $55.

Heidi uses Artist quality Winsor & Newton tubes:

Winsor Violet                                    Perylene Maroon                        Permanent Rose 
Winsor Red                                       Windsor Yellow Deep                 Winsor Lemon  
French Ultramarine Blue                  Raw Sienna                                 Burnt Sienna                               
Olive Green                                       Cobalt Blue                                 
Scarlet Lake                                     Neutral Tint
Cerulean Blue (Red shade - the lightest one possible)                                                                                                      

Brushes:

Brush sets available from Heidi on the day. Brushes range from approx $4 - 7.50 each. A standard class set of 4 is around $30, but
you can buy more if you need/wish.

• Taklon nylon brushes (sizes 3/0, 1, 3, 5 with GOOD points and a cover sleeve on them)

Paper and Boards:

Boards are available from Heidi for $10 each

Heidi will bring the stock/paper you will work on in the workshop. 

Masking Fluid and Pen:

Bring these if you already have them. Heidi will bring a few ruling pens to share with the group. 

• Masking Fluid (colourless) - Pop it into a Ziploc bag to save yourself any potential disasters!
• Ruling pen or ink nib pen

Bring your lunch and snacks or you can purchase from cafes close by.

What else is provided

• Tea, coffee and biscuits (bring your own cup)
• A friendly, supportive and encouraging learning environment
• Connection to the Bienarte art community

Useful Information

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