Emma Tildesley is popular and talented watercolour artist specializing in botanicals. For as long as she can remember she’s been captivated by the intricate beauty of plants, and her journey as a botanical illustrator is one dedicated to capturing the essence of the plant and translating it onto paper. Emma studied for a diploma with the Society of Botanical Artists and graduated in 2022 with a Distinction. She is a Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists and a member of the UK Coloured Pencil Society.Emma started posting tutorials on her YouTube channel nearly 10 years ago. Since then she’s amassed nearly 6.5k subscribers, a number that keeps on growing; she also has over 70k dedicated followers on Instagram, where she shares news of her latest tutorials and special watercolour commissions.Emma is based near Birmingham, UK.

This guide by nature artist Tildesley is for beginner and intermediate artists who want to develop and nurture their drawing skills in the field of botanicals. The author begins by showing readers how to follow each example line-by-line to create their own complete drawings in very little time. Tildesley provides a list of tools and materials required for both painting and drawing and then divides the book into four sections: fruits and vegetables; flowers; cones, berries and foliage; and cacti and succulents. The instructions are encouraging and easy to follow, and the author leads readers through exercises that will help them identify flora in nature and draw the essence of each plant. After the drawing is complete, artists can use Tildesley’s color palette and suggestions to make the botanicals come to life on the page. There are familiar fruits and vegetables such as cherries and eggplant, and less well-known options such as alstroemeria and haworthia—something fun for artists and gardeners.VERDICT: In addition to helping readers to develop drawing skills, this book emphasizes the meditative practice and relaxing benefits of drawing and is a worthwhile purchase.

• ContentsIntroductionHow to use this bookTools and materialsDRAWINGSFruits and vegetables: Aubergine/eggplant, Avocado, Blueberries, Cherries, Chillis, Grapes, Olive branch, Redcurrants, Shiraz peas, Strawberry, Tomatoes, WatermelonFlowers: Alstromeria, Bird of Paradise, Bluebells, Calla lilies, Clematis, Daffodil, Dahlia, Freesia, Fuchsia, Grape hyacinth, Grey poppy, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Iris, Lily, Orchid, Pansy, Rose, Snowdrop, Spray Carnation, TulipCones, leaves and berries: Butcher's broom, Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe, Pinecone, Poinsettia, RosehipsCacti and succulents: Aloe vera, Blue chalksticks, Ghost echeveria, Jelly Bean Plant, Moonstones, Prickly Pear Cactus, String of Bananas, String of Buttons, String of Pearls, Zebra Haworthia

Emma Tildesley is popular and talented watercolour artist specializing in botanicals. For as long as she can remember she’s been captivated by the intricate beauty of plants, and her journey as a botanical illustrator is one dedicated to capturing the essence of the plant and translating it onto paper. Emma studied for a diploma with the Society of Botanical Artists and graduated in 2022 with a Distinction. She is a Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists and a member of the UK Coloured Pencil Society.Emma started posting tutorials on her YouTube channel nearly 10 years ago. Since then she’s amassed nearly 6.5k subscribers, a number that keeps on growing; she also has over 70k dedicated followers on Instagram, where she shares news of her latest tutorials and special watercolour commissions.Emma is based near Birmingham, UK.

This guide by nature artist Tildesley is for beginner and intermediate artists who want to develop and nurture their drawing skills in the field of botanicals. The author begins by showing readers how to follow each example line-by-line to create their own complete drawings in very little time. Tildesley provides a list of tools and materials required for both painting and drawing and then divides the book into four sections: fruits and vegetables; flowers; cones, berries and foliage; and cacti and succulents. The instructions are encouraging and easy to follow, and the author leads readers through exercises that will help them identify flora in nature and draw the essence of each plant. After the drawing is complete, artists can use Tildesley’s color palette and suggestions to make the botanicals come to life on the page. There are familiar fruits and vegetables such as cherries and eggplant, and less well-known options such as alstroemeria and haworthia—something fun for artists and gardeners.VERDICT: In addition to helping readers to develop drawing skills, this book emphasizes the meditative practice and relaxing benefits of drawing and is a worthwhile purchase.

• ContentsIntroductionHow to use this bookTools and materialsDRAWINGSFruits and vegetables: Aubergine/eggplant, Avocado, Blueberries, Cherries, Chillis, Grapes, Olive branch, Redcurrants, Shiraz peas, Strawberry, Tomatoes, WatermelonFlowers: Alstromeria, Bird of Paradise, Bluebells, Calla lilies, Clematis, Daffodil, Dahlia, Freesia, Fuchsia, Grape hyacinth, Grey poppy, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Iris, Lily, Orchid, Pansy, Rose, Snowdrop, Spray Carnation, TulipCones, leaves and berries: Butcher's broom, Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe, Pinecone, Poinsettia, RosehipsCacti and succulents: Aloe vera, Blue chalksticks, Ghost echeveria, Jelly Bean Plant, Moonstones, Prickly Pear Cactus, String of Bananas, String of Buttons, String of Pearls, Zebra Haworthia

Emma Tildesley is popular and talented watercolour artist specializing in botanicals. For as long as she can remember she’s been captivated by the intricate beauty of plants, and her journey as a botanical illustrator is one dedicated to capturing the essence of the plant and translating it onto paper. Emma studied for a diploma with the Society of Botanical Artists and graduated in 2022 with a Distinction. She is a Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists and a member of the UK Coloured Pencil Society.Emma started posting tutorials on her YouTube channel nearly 10 years ago. Since then she’s amassed nearly 6.5k subscribers, a number that keeps on growing; she also has over 70k dedicated followers on Instagram, where she shares news of her latest tutorials and special watercolour commissions.Emma is based near Birmingham, UK.

This guide by nature artist Tildesley is for beginner and intermediate artists who want to develop and nurture their drawing skills in the field of botanicals. The author begins by showing readers how to follow each example line-by-line to create their own complete drawings in very little time. Tildesley provides a list of tools and materials required for both painting and drawing and then divides the book into four sections: fruits and vegetables; flowers; cones, berries and foliage; and cacti and succulents. The instructions are encouraging and easy to follow, and the author leads readers through exercises that will help them identify flora in nature and draw the essence of each plant. After the drawing is complete, artists can use Tildesley’s color palette and suggestions to make the botanicals come to life on the page. There are familiar fruits and vegetables such as cherries and eggplant, and less well-known options such as alstroemeria and haworthia—something fun for artists and gardeners.VERDICT: In addition to helping readers to develop drawing skills, this book emphasizes the meditative practice and relaxing benefits of drawing and is a worthwhile purchase.

• ContentsIntroductionHow to use this bookTools and materialsDRAWINGSFruits and vegetables: Aubergine/eggplant, Avocado, Blueberries, Cherries, Chillis, Grapes, Olive branch, Redcurrants, Shiraz peas, Strawberry, Tomatoes, WatermelonFlowers: Alstromeria, Bird of Paradise, Bluebells, Calla lilies, Clematis, Daffodil, Dahlia, Freesia, Fuchsia, Grape hyacinth, Grey poppy, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Iris, Lily, Orchid, Pansy, Rose, Snowdrop, Spray Carnation, TulipCones, leaves and berries: Butcher's broom, Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe, Pinecone, Poinsettia, RosehipsCacti and succulents: Aloe vera, Blue chalksticks, Ghost echeveria, Jelly Bean Plant, Moonstones, Prickly Pear Cactus, String of Bananas, String of Buttons, String of Pearls, Zebra Haworthia