After 20+ years of creating for clients, Ellen wanted to spend more time on her own creative output, sketchbooks and projects.

After attending various workshops including lino print and woodend cut engraving classes at the DCA in Dundee and with Linda Farquarson, Ellen was inspired to pick up her pencils and sketchbooks again and enjoy creating for the simple sake of artistic outlet and personal enjoyment.

Another love is gardening and after a visit to a garden expo in Edinburgh in 2018, Ellen happened to see an RHS Botanical Illustration Exhibition on display. Amazed by the beauty and skill in the botanical artist’s pieces.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE) had a stand at the show, Ellen realised some of the amazing pieces on show had been painted by artists who had previously studied at RBGE and the Botanics offered painting courses.

Watercolour is a painting medium Ellen had never tried before, nothing like setting yourself a challenge, Ellen applied for a place on the RBGE botanical illustration certificate course in 2019. 6 months later, to her amazement, Ellen was awarded a Certificate in Botanical Illustration with Distinction.

Ellen went on to gain a place on the Advanced Certificate in Botanical Illustration course at RBGE in 2023 and was awarded another Distinction for her painted study of a Camellia x williamsii “Freedom Bell” which can be seen here.

When she’s not working on client jobs, Ellen spends much of her time working on sketchbooks and painting practice.

If you like what you see here you can purchase gift cards and envelopes in the studio and also see original watercolour artwork. You can also purchase cards and envelopes by clicking the button below.