RBGE Certificate in Botanical Illustration

If you are a beginner artist or a newcomer to Botanical Illustration, then this course is for you. No existing qualifications or experience are necessary. For learners aged 16 and over. It is important to note that this course will be delivered in English, both for online and attended courses.

The course will cover fundamental skills such as 3D modelling, colour mixing, painting techniques and composition, as well as an introduction to the basic botany required by the botanical artist. The techniques you learn are valuable across all areas of illustration and are seldom taught in art colleges or university art departments and are well suited to any developing artist.

This certificate also gives you all the skills required to join the RBGE Diploma in Botanical Illustration if you wish to take your studies to a professional level.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Certificate in Botanical Illustration (CBI) is comprised of 10 units, with a submission date for each and written ongoing feedback from our expert tutors. The course can be taken online or as an attended course at the Botanics here in Edinburgh.

Some theory is provided to aid your understanding (in the form of short, highly visual presentations), but the course is designed to be delivered and assessed using a predominantly practical approach.

The CBI is a formal qualification, and you must therefore pass on-going assessments to achieve the award.  You are required to build up a course portfolio containing notes, visuals and exercises - for the online course, this involves uploading your unit work fortnightly for your tutor to review. This body of work will show progression and help develop skills leading to a final painted composition. Both the portfolio and the final piece will be assessed and the marks combined to provide the final grade. There is also an element of continuing self-assessment and evaluation within the programme.

Accessing the course

The course is delivered using PropaGate Learning, our online learning platform. You will be able to access course materials such as demonstration videos, activities, notes and galleries, together with prompt tutor and technical support, discussion forums, and an upload area for your drawings and paintings.

Time required

The online certificate runs for approximately six months, with each unit given two weeks to complete. You will be expected to spend around 10 hours per week on your course activities.

Delivery

This is a predominantly practical course, designed to teach a foundation level of skill, understanding and competence.

There are no live / online classes as part of the course. You will work through the material in your time and at your pace while following the course timetable. Work is assessed online so there is no requirement to send us your work. Written feedback and grade will be given after the final submission.

Tutor support takes place on our PropaGate learning environment forums. There is also a private messaging facility within the course where you can contact your tutor or the online learning team directly. We aim to respond to all posts within three days but often reply much sooner.

Our learning technologists are on hand via the forums/email to help you when you need assistance - you will receive a reply by the next working day.

You will also be able to interact with and take advice from fellow students via our dedicated forums.

The course is taught at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, over a series of 10 days. This course normally runs two consecutive weeks during early summer (the summer school) and weekly January to March.

10 days in total is required, although students can opt to put in more practice at home if they wish.

Delivery

Our expert tutor will guide you through the entire course, with practical activities, demonstrations and constant feedback in a classroom environment. There will be printed handouts to take away for later referral. Written feedback and grade will be given after the course final submission.

Online course: 

The online course runs three times a year in September, January and March.

2026/27 Course Dates

• September 2026 Intake: 16 Sept 2026 – 22Feb 2027
• January 2027 Intake: 13 Jan 2027 – 31 May 2027
• March 2027 Intake: 3 March 2027 – 19 July 2027

Attended Course:

If you would like to be notified of the dates of the next attended intake when they are confirmed, please fill out our course enquiry form.

The cost is £920 The full payment is required on acceptance of a place. Fees do not include the cost of any materials required to complete the course.

This is a practical course so you must have basic drawing and watercolour materials. A detailed list will be sent to you once you enrol on the course. For the online course, access to the internet will be essential. You will also need access to a digital camera and/or a scanner. In most instances a good camera image or clear phone camera image is sufficient.

Online Course

Applications open Friday 10th July at 9:00am for our September course and will close on Sunday 2^nd Aug, 11:00pm

To apply please fill in the application form 

Attended Course

If you would like to be notified of the dates of the next attended intake when they are confirmed, please complete our course enquiry form.