ORIENT-EXPRESS HOTELS ANNOUNCE DATES FOR SIX INTERNATIONAL BOTANICAL PAINTING COURSES IN 2006
19 September 2005 – Orient-Express Hotels has announced new dates for its worldwide programme of Botanical and Flower Painting Master Classes with six courses in five inspiring locations during 2006, including Cape Town, Australia’s Blue Mountains, Charleston, South Carolina and Venice.
The classes are an eclectic mix of study, painting and vacation based at one of the world’s leading hotels and have been designed by Dr Shirley Sherwood, one of the world’s pre-eminent collectors of botanical art. Two renowned artists, both very experienced teachers, will give students the chance to study and develop a greater insight into the secrets of this magical art form. The courses have been created for both beginners and accomplished artists—class sizes have been carefully restricted to 15-18 participants to give students plenty of opportunity for one-on-one tutorials.
Both tutors will cover many important aspects of botanical painting including drawing, observation, light and form, contours, surfaces and colour within the classroom sessions and whilst on excursions to botanical or private gardens. To illustrate the basic techniques, different subjects will be chosen each day for students to draw. Examples of botanical art will be discussed to build the students’ knowledge and appreciation. By the end of each Master Class it is hoped that students will have completed a number of sketches and colour works.
The 2006 botanical and flower painting classes will be held at the following locations:
• Lilianfels in the Blue Mountains, Australia (March 1-3 and 5-8) with artist Jenny Phillips
• Charleston Place in South Carolina, USA (March 19-24) with artist Katie Lee
• The Westcliff in Johannesburg, South Africa (August 28-September 1) with artist Jenny Phillips
• Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa (September 5-9) with artist Jenny Phillips
• Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy (October 8-13) with artist Jenny Phillips
The botanical flora and fauna studied will be extremely varied and subjects will be chosen that typify their indigenous environment which may be new to the student: they can recreate the subtle colour variations of the camellias of Charleston; study the robust and striking formation of the Protea of South Africa; bring to life the warm glow of Venice’s autumn fruits and foliage; or examine the strange and exotic plants that inhabit Australia.
The programmes include accommodation, painting classes, all excursions, airport transfers, some meals and beverages. Students are asked to supply their own art materials. Prices range from around UK£190 for a 3 day non-residential course to UK£2630 for a 5 night residential course and will vary according to the destination.
Dr. Shirley Sherwood has a unique collection which includes more than 600 botanical paintings and drawings, representing the work of 200 artists from 30 countries. Many of the artists featured in this collection are recorded in Dr. Sherwood’s book, Contemporary Botanical Artists, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Her most recent acquisitions are recorded in A Passion for Plants: Contemporary Botanical Masterworks, published by Cassell in 2001. She has recently written a catalogue, A New Flowering: 1000 Years of Botanical Art (2005), to accompany an exhibition she curated at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK.
Dr. Sherwood is Vice Chairman and a judge on the Botanical Painting Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, London; a former trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; a Fellow of the Linnean Society; an honorary trustee of the American Society of Botanical Artists; and a Board member of the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum, Washington. The Royal Horticultural Society has awarded Dr Sherwood the Veitch Memorial Medal for services to horticulture through her promotion of contemporary botanical art and artists.
Ends
For further press information and images, please contact:
Pippa Isbell or Victoria Legg
Vice President, Public Relations Public Relations Manager
Tel: (020) 7805 5065 Tel: (020) 7805 5067
Fax: (020) 7805 5938 Fax: (020) 7805 5938
e-mail: pippa.isbell@orient-express.com Vicky.legg@orient-express.com
Internet: www.orient-express.com
For further class enquiries or to make a reservation, please contact:
Christine Martyn
Orient-Express Hotels
Sea Containers House
20 Upper Ground
London SE1 9PF
Tel: (020) 7805 5068 Fax: (020) 7805 5938
Email: Christine.martyn@orient-express.com
