Category: Botanical Art Courses

Published on by MARY DILLON2 Comments

Summer Blooms in Clos Mirabel

July 18 – 25, 2026

Join me  at Atelier Clos Mirabel in 2026 for a week long botanical art workshop in the French Pyrenees ~ South West France. Enjoy wonderful surroundings, delightful accommodation and delicious meals.

About this course: 

Escape to the breathtaking Pyrenees for a week of creativity and inspiration! Join me for an immersive botanical art retreat at Clos Mirabel, where you’ll explore the beauty of summer blooms and refine your artistic skills in a serene, stunning setting. Connect with fellow artists, discover new techniques, and let the vibrant surroundings inspire you. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to create, relax, and grow — all while surrounded by the enchanting landscapes of south west France.

  • Dates: from 18 July 2026 to 25 July 2026
  • 25 hours of tuition per week
  • Medium: Watercolour
  • Level: Beginner / Experienced
  • Language: English
  • Full Board Accommodation: 1595€ to 2895€ per week based on room choice & single or shared occupancy + tuition fee
  • Tutor’s Fee: 600 Euros

To reserve your place and accommodation at Clos Mirabel:

https://atelier.clos-mirabel.com/rates-accommodation

Non-painting guests: we are more than happy to welcome non-painting guests, accompanying partners, family or friends. There are plenty of activities to experience around Clos Mirabel, that will make your holiday unforgettable 

Botanical Painting Holiday – Programme Outline:

Saturday
4.00 – Check-in time from 4pm onwards.
Guests arrive, settle in and explore Clos Mirabel
6.00 – An introduction to the course by Mary Dillion over welcome drinks
7.00 – 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace

Sunday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Getting to know your subject…. Choosing, Lighting, Observing, Drawing, Composing
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Return to Studio to continue work with individual tuition
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace

Monday
8.30 – 9.15 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
9.30 – Depart Clos Mirabel
10.00 – 12.30 Morning visit to the higher slopes of the Pyrenees to observe alpine plants in their natural habitat, followed by field sketching
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at local Auberge
3.00 – 4.30 Studio: Colour mixing and matching, practicing wet watercolour painting techniques and laying the first washes.
6.00 – An evening talk on prominent local landscape artists by Xavier over aperitif
7.00 – 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Please note this programme may be subject to change depending on the weather.
Please ensure you bring sensible walking shoes, layers, waterproof jacket, water bottle, sunscreen and a hat.

Tuesday
8.30 – 9.30 Breakfast
10.00 – 1.00 Studio: Mixing greens, painting petals, painting leaves, painting shadows
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Studio: Layering washes for impact
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace

Wednesday – Free day (Lunch is not provided)
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
Free day to explore the locality. We suggest wine tasting in local vineyard, explore Pau or beyond.
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace

Thursday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast
10.00 – 1.00 Studio: Learn and practice dry brush techniques. Building form and create texture in your painting.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Studio
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace

Friday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 1.00 Studio: The Wow Factor! Finishing with finer details using dry brush techniques. Troubleshooting your painting. Bringing it all together.
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 4.00 Studio
6.00 – Evening exhibition in the art studio of Atelier Clos Mirabel with aperitif
7.00 – 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace

Saturday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet Breakfast and departure (Check-out time 11am)

I look forward to seeing you there!

Mary 🌸

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Botanical Watercolour Painting

Completed

Summer Flowers of the Pyrenees

July 5 – 12, 2025

Join me in 2025

Botanical Art Retreat

Clos Mirabel, France

I‘ve just completed a magical week of teaching and painting in wonderful Clos Mirabel. Everything about our week was special. From the warm welcome we received on our arrival through to our comfortable and well appointed accommodation, our delicious and generous meals, to the spacious studio which was our home for the week, we couldn’t have wished for more….except to return!

The great news is, that I will be returning from July 5 – 12, 2025.

I’ll be teaching again in Clos Mirabel in the foothills of the majestic Pyrenees. I’d love you to join me for this very special experience!

  • Give yourself the gift of bringing your painting to a new level of competence and skill. 
  • Give yourself the gift of space to retreat for you. 
  • Give yourself the gift of relaxation and fun, in good company, with wholesome tasty meals, in a comfortably luxurious setting. 

Wake to views of morning mists drifting over the vineyards rolling down into the valley……

Let your eyes wander to the vista of the mountains sweeping up from the valley……

……………Breathe.

I know we’re going to be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing subjects to paint at this glorious time of year.

It’ll be an immersive learning opportunity, a retreat for you and a lovely restful holiday in a beautiful place with breathtaking views over the snow capped Pyrenees.

‘Love In a Mist‘ Nigella damascene ©️Mary Dillon

The studio at Clos Mirabel is spacious, filled with light, and a wonderful base for us as we spend our days learning, practicing and applying new painting skills as we paint. With beautiful peonies, irises, and tulips, as our subjects, our focus will be on bringing life and movement to our painting. We’ll take our inspiration from the hills and valleys surrounding the Manor House and from the gardens themselves. With many years experience as an arts educator and a practicing artist, I look forward to generously sharing with you my knowledge and experience.

Contact Clos Mirabel for information about remaining available accommodation.

+33.6.79.59.04.91

Email

July 5 – 12. 2025

  • Dates: July 5 – 12, 2025
  • 25 hours of tuition per week
  • Level: Intermediate/ Experienced
  • Language: English

Clos Mirabel is easily accessible from Pau, Lourdes or Biarritz airports.

New Courses for 2019

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Rhapsody in Blue Roses, Continuum. ©️Mary Dillon

Barcelona

October 31 – November 3, 2019

Cork

September 13 – 15, 2019

I am pleased to share with you some updates on workshops I will be giving later in 2019 and in 2020.

Barcelona

October 31 – November 3, 2019

I am delighted to be returning to Barcelona in late October to offer a workshop in botanical art. While I will be covering the basic techniques needed for beginners in botanical art, this time I will also be preparing a specific ‘first day’ of the course for those with a little more experience and those who have attended previous workshops.

Barcelona poster

 

Contact:

Please contact Laura Alonso for further information:

lauraalonso27@gmail.com

http://www.arte-botanico.com

 

Cork

Having just finished a wonderful three day workshop for beginners in botanical art techniques in Waterford, facilitated by  Classical Art Atelier, we are now planning another workshop to be based in Cork from September 6 – 8, 2019. This will be a great opportunity for those who would like to learn the essential techniques required to make a botanical painting.

Contact:

Please contact Adrian Cooke of Classical Art Atelier for further information.

info@classicalartatelier.com

http://www.classicalartatelier.com

+353 (0)87 6609644C8B9B76E-270E-4A11-A07F-5E77DD51DCC7

 

 

Upcoming workshops 2018 / 2019

Published on by MARY DILLON2 Comments

Easy and slow…..!
Learning the art of botanical painting
with Mary Dillon

 

I am happy to give you details of some upcoming workshops I will be giving. I look forward to sharing with you my love for plants, painting and botanical art.

Spain     –    February 21 – 24, 2019

                     October 31 – November 3, 2019

Austria   –   May 17, 2019

Ireland    –   November 19 – 23, 2018

Spain

Barcelona

Course 1: February 21 -24, 2019
Course 2: October 31 – November 3, 2019

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ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS:

Barcelona

February 21- 24, 2019

October 31 – November 3, 2019

Studio: Art Valles, Carrer Pallars, Barcelona. Time: 9 am to 3.30 pm each day
Cost: €280

Taking our inspiration from the changing seasons we will practise observational drawing to focus on light, form and composition before moving on to learning the basics of wet and dry watercolour techniques. By exploring a vibrant but simple colour palette we will use transparent layers of colour to bring vitality to our painting.

A small group will allow for demonstrations and individual tuition. This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience.

Enquiries to Laura Alonso: lauraalonso27 @gmail.com

http://www.arte-botanicao.com

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Austria

Vienna .

Vienna School of Botanical Illustration

Botanical Garden of The University of Vienna

 

Get Together 2019, May 12 to 19

 

Watercolour for Botanical Illustration with Mary Dillon

Friday, May 17, 2019

Time: 10.00 am to 18.00 pm

Cost: €100 

Enquiries regarding workshop and Get Together 2019 registration:

office@botanische-illustration.at

http://www.botanische-illustration.at

 

To facilitate broader group collaboration, the Vienna School of Botanical Illustration are organising GET TOGETHER 2019 where artists can meet, exchange ideas and work together in practical workshops. Specialist visits to museums and archive collections along with a field trip to the Donau – Auden National Park will also be included. Portfolio showcases will be given by botanical illustrators and the workshop instructors. These will last one to two hours in the mornings and will be followed by a discussion.

All components of the programme are independent so that attendees can decide on their own level of involvement.

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Ireland

Clonmel

November 19 – 23, 2018

About the workshops:

Venue: Tipperary County Museum

For Bookings please contact:       

Julia Walsh:  museum@tipperarycoco.ie

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2016 Botanical Art Workshops

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Botanical Art – Painting the flowers and bulbs of Spring

with experienced artist and tutor, Mary Dillon

Tulipa ‘Black Parrot’ WIP,Mary Dillon

 

Friday April 22nd and Saturday April 23rd 2016

Located in Kilkenny city

close to the ring road around the city – with easy road and rail access

(1hr 12mins by car from the Red Cow, Dublin)

Paint in an easy relaxed atmosphere.

Whatever your level of experience, learn techniques to enhance your painting.

Numbers limited to allow for one to one tuition

Subjects will be included

Morning and afternoon refreshments included

Please bring your own materials for watercolour painting

Euro 120

For more information: phone – 087 2224260 / email – dillonmary@eircom.net

Tulipa rococco Mary Dillon
Tulip MD

 

I have been involved in Art Education for many years, both with students in post primary school and in the area of providing continuing professional development for teachers.In 2011 I decided to focus specifically on my interest in Botanical Art and pursued the diploma in botanical art and illustration with the Society of Botanical Artists, graduating in May, 2014 with a diploma with distinction.

In March 2014, I became the founding Chairperson of the Irish Society of Botanical Artists. I coordinated the team responsible for the inaugural ISBA exhibition project, Aibítir, involving over  seventy five participating artists.

In 2015, I was invited to become an associate member of the SBA.

I find teaching botanical art particularly rewarding as it gives me an opportunity to share my skills and to encourage others to see the world of plants in a new and exciting way.