* A beautiful facsimile botanical sketchbook for all lovers of the art. * A practical masterclass showing one womans progression from modest flower painter to botanical artist of distinction * Full of practical hints tips & colour swatches for aspiring flower painters * Published in association with the Society of Botanical Artists * Foreword by Sir Roy Strong This is the story of one womans journey from amateur painter to botanical artist told through the sketchbooks & paintings she produced for the Distance Learning Diploma Course run by the Society of Botanical Artists. Packed with advice & tips this book will serve as a guide & inspiration to anyone wanting to embark on life as a botanical artist. This book is both a showcase of Mary Anns work & a record of her achievements including first-hand accounts of the joys & challenges she faced as she progressed. It contains work from every assignment she undertook from her first attempts at drawing a tulip to the triumphant paintings she made for her diploma portfolio. Along the way are delicate floral compositions juicy fruit & vegetables botanical dissections & her adventures out in the field. Margarets comments on each assignments are also included giving an insight into the assessment process & an all-round view of Mary Anns successes & (very rare) failures. The book ends with a glorious selection of Mary Anns ongoing work as a botanical artist.