A professional botanical artist, tutor, and author, Leigh Ann began her artistic career as a graphic designer after graduating from Ravensbourne art college (UK) with a BA (Hons) in Visual Communication in 1989. Following a move to Sussex, she took up botanical illustration and in 2004 completed a diploma in Botanical Art and Illustration at the English Gardening School, Chelsea Physic Garden, London. This was followed in 2008 with a post graduate teaching certificate.
Over the years Leigh Ann has been awarded medals for her work and has exhibited extensively around the world. Many of Leigh Ann’s paintings are held in private collections in the UK and around the world, including the Royal Archives, and the permanent collection at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh, USA.
Leigh Ann has extensive experience of working with, and contributing botanical artwork to several florilegia, including The Florilegium Society at Sydney Botanic Gardens, Australia; the Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Society and the Nymans Florilegium in Sussex. Recently, she has played a pivotal role in establishing the newly formed Leonardslee Florilegium also in Sussex.
Teaching botanical art has become a passion for Leigh Ann. She tutors a wide range of botanical art and illustration courses and workshops from her home near Horsham, and at various locations throughout Sussex, Surrey, and south London. With her wealth of experience, she is renowned for her encouraging and supportive approach to teaching students of all abilities and is a highly regarded mentor and adviser on the art of botanical painting.
Leigh Ann has written two books published by The Crowood Press: ‘Botanical Illustration – the complete guide’ (2018) and ‘Colour for Botanical Artists and Illustrators’ (2021). She has recently been commissioned to write a third book, ‘Drawing & Painting Leaves’ due for publication in 2024.
Leigh Ann welcomes commissions and is available for talks and demonstrations.
To discover more about Leigh Ann, please visit her website www.la-botanicalart.co.uk or social media www.facebook.com/leighanngalebotanicalart