Meriel Thurstan - Botanical Artist

I must admit I took extra art lessons at school mainly as a way of avoiding having to play hockey, lacrosse and netball. I started botanical illustration when I was working in Cornwall, where I was a founder, now a Fellow, of the Eden Project Florilegium Society.
Rosie Martin and I organized and tutored the extremely successful annual Eden diploma course in botanical illustration, which developed into weekly classes, demonstrations, workshops and a distance learning course.
In 2006 I set up the South West Society of Botanical Artists (SWSBA) and was chairman from 2006-2011. I was re-elected as chairman in 2018.
I was an elected member of the Society of Floral Painters (now defunct). My awards include a Bronze medal from the Royal Horticultural Society for paintings of different-coloured potatoes, and an RHS Silver Linley medal for paintings of Fungi of the Eden Project.
I am co-author, with Rosie Martin, of six books on botanical and natural history illustration. My work is included in 'A Coming of Age', a celebration of the work of the Eden Project Florilegium Society over the last 18 years, edited by Ros Franklin and published in 2018. I exhibit with SWSBA and also at other venues in the West Country.
My paintings hang in England, France and Australia.
Meriel Thurstan Books
Exotic Botanical Illustration by Rosie Martin & Meriel Thurstan
This book explains how to paint some of the exotic fruit, vegetables and flowers that can be found in supermarkets and florists' shops - and abroad!
Contemporary Botanical Illustration by Rosie Martin & Meriel Thurstan
The interest in botanical art is still growing and the authors of the bestselling 'Botanical Illustration Course' bring fresh ideas to the genre.
Natural History Illustration by Rosie Martin and Meriel Thurstan
Covering the techniques needed for natural history illustration.
Botanical Illustration Course by Rosie Martin and Meriel Thurstan
Voted Practical Art Book of the Year, this course is based on the botanical illustration course taught at the Eden Project.
Botanical Illustration for Beginners
A step-by-step guide by Meriel Thurstan and Rosie Martin