Billy is an internationally known botanical painter and illustrator based in Kent in the UK. Though originally trained in fashion design and illustration, Billy eventually turned to oil and then watercolour painting. Her works are distinguishable by her striking and beautiful and sometimes unusual compositions. She has won various botanical awards from the RHS and the SBA and a gold medal from the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. Billy’s work is held at Kew Botanic Gardens, the Hunt Institute USA, in the Shirley Sherwood collection and many collectors worldwide. Alongside Billy’s painting and illustrating, she is also a prolific teacher, teaching at her studio and regularly across and outside the UK including America and Australia. Passionate about sharing her tips and skills, Billy has produced four best-selling… Read more
Billy is an internationally known botanical painter and illustrator based in Kent in the UK. Though originally trained in fashion design and illustration, Billy eventually turned to oil and then watercolour painting. Her works are distinguishable by her striking and beautiful and sometimes unusual compositions. She has won various botanical awards from the RHS and the SBA and a gold medal from the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. Billy’s work is held at Kew Botanic Gardens, the Hunt Institute USA, in the Shirley Sherwood collection and many collectors worldwide. Alongside Billy’s painting and illustrating, she is also a prolific teacher, teaching at her studio and regularly across and outside the UK including America and Australia. Passionate about sharing her tips and skills, Billy has produced four best-selling… Read more
Book Synopsis Billy Showell is a well-respected botanical watercolour artist, and her exceptional eye for detail and ability to re-create the form, texture, colour and patterning of a wide range of plants have earned her a formidable reputation worldwide. Her compositions are given a contemporary, sometimes playful twist, while retaining all the beauty and accuracy of traditional botanical paintings. In this inspiring and indispensable guide for botanical artists, she reveals the materials, methods and techniques she uses to attain her stunningly beautiful portraits of flowers, fruit and vegetables. There is expert guidance on tools and materials, working from life, observation, and drawing and painting techniques, as well as detailed sections on pattern, texture, and colour and colour mixing. With numerous step-by-step studies, close-up photographs and examples of Billy's exquisite paintings, this book is not only packed full of invaluable advice and information but also a visually stunning showcase for the work of this amazing artist. Review Quotes Botanical artists Billy Showell's highly accomplished paintings give a contemporary twist to the traditional art of botanical painting, and have received worldwide acclaim. In Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to produce an impressive compendium of simply stunning works of art. As an instruction manual, Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour covers every aspect of botanical painting, including the materials and tools needed, preserving specimens, drawing, painting, color mixing and composition. Richly illustrated throughout with step-by-step demonstrations and examples of her work, Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour is a visual feast as well as an invaluable source of expert guidance and inspiration. With a diverse range of subjects that include flowers, foliage, fruit and vegetables, Billy provides an insight into her painting techniques that artists of all abilities will find both informative and inspirational. Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour is thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, making it an ideal and very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Art Studies instructional reference collections in general, and Botanical Art supplemental studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour is also available in a Kindle format ($22.30), .--Midwest Book Reviews "http: //www.midwestbookreview.com/lbw/dec_16.htm#Art" About the Author Billy Showell graduated from St Martins School of Art with a B.A. in fashion design, but was irresistably drawn to painting and illustration. In 1993 she set course for a career as an artist and now paints, illustrates and teaches botanical painting at her studio and art clubs in the UK, USA and Australia. She lives in Tunbridge Wells, UK with her husband and two sons. Billy has been awarded five Certificates of Botanical Merit from the Society of Botanical Artists and her first book on watercolour flower portraits has been hugely successful in the UK and abroad. Billy's paintings are collected by her followers the world over and many are available as limited edition prints.
Billy was our "Artist in Residence" at this years show, and was working on beautiful flower paintings throughout show week. View more of our conservatories at www.alitex.co.uk
