EMBARK UPON AN UNFORGETTABLE CREATIVE JOURNEY, AND BE INSPIRED BY THE BREATHTAKING SPACE WHERE ART MEETS NATURE.

BOTANICAL ART MASTERCLASS

Spend 5 unforgettable days in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, experiencing its magnificent flora and capturing its beauty through art. In this special masterclass, a renowned international artist will guide you through a journey of exploration and creative expression through the wonders of botanical art.

grootbos-web-masterclass-botanical-art-fynbos-diversity.jpg

THE GROOTBOS FLORILEGIUM

A BOTANICAL HERITAGE CELEBRATED THROUGH ART

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve has been a custodian of the Cape Floral Kingdom for over 25 years, preserving and promoting one of the most biodiverse biomes on the planet. The culmination of our commitment to the region’s natural splendour, is the Grootbos Florilegium, a collection of botanical illustrations by local and international artists. The Florilegium is testament to our botanical heritage, and the Grootbos reserve is the perfect environment to host a masterclass dedicated to botanical art.

BOTANICAL ART MASTERCLASS

AN IMMERSIVE ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE

Botanical art practitioners and enthusiasts are invited to spend 5 days at Grootbos for an unforgettable artistic experience. Botanical art practitioners and enthusiasts are invited to spend 5 days at Grootbos for an unforgettable artistic experience. Surrounded by the spectacular display of the fynbos in spring bloom, participants will join renowned international artist Laura Silburn for an intensive workshop focused towards composition and finishing an artwork. Enjoy demonstrations on detailed drawing and building tone and drama into your paintings, using dry-brushing techniques to define details for a high-end finish to your artwork.

WORLD-RENOWNED EXPERTISE

ACCLAIMED INSTRUCTOR

Laura is an internationally acclaimed botanical artist from South-West England. She is probably best known for her work, painting ferns, receiving three Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gold medals for her work, among them a ‘Best Botanical Painting’ award for six species of Dryopteris ferns. Laura currently teaches at her Alma mater, Mally Francis in Heligan Gardens, Cornwall where she completed her watercolour studies. As an instructor, she is thrilled to share her knowledge and expertise during this very special masterclass hosted by the Grootbos Florilegium.

CAPTURE THE COLOURS, TONES AND TEXTURES OF THE MAJESTIC FYNBOS FLORA

From research expeditions in the field to sessions in the studio, this unique botanical masterclass celebrates botanical accuracy and artistic excellence, every step of the way.

grootbos-web-masterclass-botanical-art-fynbos-diverse-landscape.jpg

With over 900 species of fynbos, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and the Cape Floral Kingdom are globally renowned for their biodiversity. The region and its flora have inspired artists, conservationists and eco-tourists for decades.

Laura Silburn is a renowned botanical artist from South-West England will share her skills and expertise in a hands-on practical course, focused towards composition & techniques for a high-end finishing on your artwork.

Grootbos has 25 years of experience in conservation and ecological research. The Grootbos Foundation Conservation team, as well as researchers, constantly add to a broadening scope of knowledge about the magnificent Cape Floral Kingdom.

grootbos-web-masterclass-botanical-art-sketch-in-nature.jpg

Grootbos is a world leader in sustainable tourism, committed to research and innovation. The team’s philosophy extends beyond conservation, constantly pioneering new paths for progressive eco-tourism.

grootbos-web-botanical-art-masterclass-garden-lodge.jpg

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

The first of its kind in Africa, the Grootbos Florilegium is honoured to welcome an internationally acclaimed artist, who will share her expertise and inspire fellow botanical art enthusiasts. The masterclass will be a journey of exploration and appreciation, capturing natural wonders through the precision and beauty of botanical art.

Laura Silburn

has been contributing to the Eden Project Florilegium Society archive since 2010, and teaches at Mally Francis in Heligan Gardens, Cornwall where she first studied watercolour. She has three RHS gold medals (London 2013, London 2014 and London 2018) and Best in Show and Best Botanical Painting awards (2014, 2018). Seven of her paintings are part of the prestigious Transylvania Florilegium and has work in the Hunt Institute, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Florilegium, RHS Lindley Library, Shirley Sherwood Collection, Oak Spring Garden Foundation Library in Virginia and Grootbos Florilegium in South Africa. Laura takes inspiration from the diverse flora of the south west and its gardens, and considers herself lucky to have such a botanical treasure trove to work from.

Reserve your place for the opportunity to build your watercolour skills under the guidance of an internationally acclaimed botanical artist.

Enquire Now

Course Information

Course Information:

Course Date: 1 - 5 September 2025
Venue: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Cost: R6500pp includes tuition and a light lunch daily but not accommodation
Bookings: chris.lochner@grootbosfoundation.org

Inclusions:

A 5-day masterclass led by renowned international artist
Light lunch provided daily
Engaging lectures covering various aspects of botanical art and conservation

Exclusions:

Accommodation during the masterclass

Course Details

Course Summary:

This masterclass will focus on selecting a subject from the surrounding Fynbos, using sketching and freer drawing styles to capture the essence and character of the plant.
Artists will work on planning their compositions and building on that, making detailed, measured drawings to work into their layouts.
The class will explore selecting tones to build form and drama and progress through layered stages of watercolour.
Learn more about the techniques of dry-brushing to add pattern and texture as well incorporating glazes and stipple to achieve subtle and complex colours.
Bringing it all together with sharpening edges and defining details for a high-quality finish on your artwork.

Equipment Required:

What to Bring:

Watercolour paper (A4 is good)
Artist quality paints, palette and brushes (bring a wide selection of brushes if you have) - One or two good sable or similar quality brushes are essential but synthetic brushes are also useful.
Drawing equipment including measuring tools (ruler or dividers) a fine pencil (preferably propelling), erasers, and a sketch book or sketching paper
Additionally, you may want to bring softer pencils for sketching if you have them, and layout paper (A4 is good) for planning compositions.
Standard magnification, plus a loupe or other strong magnifier may be useful.
It may be useful to bring some of your own work to look at, including a piece that is unfinished so that we have something to try out finishing techniques on.