Sue Vize

Biography

I began my studies in 2000 after joining a WEA botanical illustration course for beginners.  I first exhibited at the Society of Botanical Artists annual exhibition in 2007, became an Associate Member of the SBA in 2008, and a Full Member in 2009.

I love to draw, having a preference for a pencil in my hand rather than a paintbrush, and use either graphite or coloured pencil as my main medium.  Within the traditions of botanical art, I prefer to work from live specimens.  This enables me to record all the tiny details that are often missed when working from a photograph.

My inspiration comes in many forms. When working in coloured pencil it is the colour of the plant that attracts me, but when working in graphite pencil it is the intricate structure and detail of something that’s twisted and dried up for the part that gives inspiration. I particularly enjoy the structure of ferns and seed pods and feel that they make perfect subjects in either graphite or coloured pencil.

My work in forms part of many private collections including the RHS Lindley Library, the Hunt Institute in Pennsylvania, and the Plant Sciences Division of Nottingham University.

I have recently retired as a tutor of Botanical Illustration to enable more time to concentrate on my own artwork.  In addition to running my own workshops for fifteen years, I have tutored on courses across the UK including for the RHS at Harlow Carr, Field Breaks, Artison, Farncombe Estate and many more.  I have also tutored for the SBA Distance Learning Diploma course.

My book Botanical Drawing using Graphite and Coloured Pencils (Crowood Press) was released in June 2016.

Contact Details:

 Web: www.suevize.com