Susan Christopher-Coulson is an award winning botanical artist working in coloured pencil.
“The joy of drawing plants is in the continuous cycle of observation. There is always something new to see - forms emerging, colours changing, textures and patterns that reveal themselves across the cycle of seasons and the renewal of life.”
· ABOUT THE ARTIST ·
Childhood walks and gardening engendered a love of nature, and plants in particular from an early age. After a move from London with a career in fashion design and illustration, Susan found time to develop the plant and natural history drawing she had continued to make.
Weaving together parallels in her design life - the appreciation of silhouette, colour, texture, pattern and detail, with her life-long enthusiasm for plants drew her - almost inevitably - into the world of botanical art.
· WORK & TECHNIQUE ·
Susan’s artworks are notable for their striking compositions, exquisite detail, depth of colour and capture of form in each of her subjects.
Drawing has always been Susan’s favoured form of artistic expression and, as an extension of the drafting process, coloured pencils became her preferred medium for introducing colour. Their ability to create subtle tonal depths as well as vibrant translucence remains a constant fascination and challenge across the flora and fruit she depicts and have allowed her to achieve her signature style.
· EXHIBITING & TUTORING ·
Susan regularly exhibits with numerous shows that include annually exhibiting with the Society of Botanical Artists since 2000 and twice at the Royal Horticultural Society. The SBA also offered opportunities to exhibit in Madrid and several times in Frankfurt. She has held four solo exhibitions to date and taken part in many joint exhibitions with the Society of Floral Painters and Florum as well as with individual galleries in the UK.
Alongside exhibiting, Susan also tutors budding artists helping people with a passion for plants and an artistic eye to learn and apply the craft of coloured pencils. From workshops to longer residential courses, she has a calendar of courses at venues across the UK. Please see the Events page for more information.
· SHOP ·
A selection of Susan’s original work has been reproduced for sale as Greetings Cards and Giclée Prints using archival inks on high quality paper. Publishing in Spring/Summer 2024, Susan is delighted to have been invited to write her first book, The Tapestry of Life: A Botanical Artist’s Miscellany published by Two Rivers Press.
All will be found in her online shop.
