City Gardens and Greenhouses

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London's many parks and public gardens effectively make up the world's largest urban forest, with over 8 million trees. None is too small or too broad to be inspired by. Throughout this course we will immerse ourselves in the centre of our subject, looking at the exquisite plants in the Victorian Greenhouses in Kew Gardens, at the views from atop Primrose Hill, at the lakes and gardens in Regent’s Park and other smaller inner-city parks. We will discover how drawing outside heightens our senses, sharpens our focus, and resets our approach to capturing a sense of place. As the Parks prepare for spring, borders become more exposed, trees are stripped from their outfits, branches are revealed and maintained gardens start to lose shape. The marks we use should reflect this change in energy. Looking closely at the rhythms, shapes, and characters of a composed parkland where structure and design creates order, as well as the wild areas where nature arranges itself, we will challenge our approach to drawing each week. The course is suitable for all levels.

In wet weather we will have access to conservatories, greenhouses and indoor gardens.

Featured image by Viola Wang