The Artists' Garden - Botanical Drawing
with Mary Dillon

Taking inspiration from our building-wide exhibition Tony & Jane O'Malley: The Shared Studio focusing on the artist’s shared studio and life in Kilkenny. The garden was a large feature of Tony and Jane’s home life where the shared studio looked out to the garden and was an inspiration in both artists' work. This botanical painting workshop with Mary Dillon will focus on summer plants that featured in the artists' garden. 

A multi-sensory approach will create a dynamic workshop, in which the participant will experiment with observation, mark-making and colour exploration.

This workshop will cover:

• Observational and measured drawing
• Exploring light and tone to create form
• Colour mixing and matching
• Wet and dry watercolour techniques

All Materials will be provided. Open to all levels.

Mary Dillon is an internationally recognised botanical artist whose work captures the essence of plants through their beauty, sensuality and fragility. Working predominantly in large format, she creates contemporary botanical paintings in which colour, light and form combine to reveal the unique character and presence of each subject.

For Mary, botanical art is both a disciplined practice and a deeply personal journey of observation and discovery. Her work seeks to balance scientific accuracy with artistic expression, exploring the space where art and science meet. Through strong aesthetic and emotional connections, she invites viewers to slow down, look more closely, and reflect on the importance of conserving, protecting and celebrating the natural world.

Mary's paintings are held in the renowned collections of Dr Shirley Sherwood and the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh. She was the founding Chairperson of the Irish Society of Botanical Artists. Through her teaching and exhibiting, she enjoys connecting with the international community of botanical artists, encouraging others to deepen both their technical skills and their creative voice.

An award-winning artist, Mary received Best in Show at the American Society of Botanical Artists' 25th International Exhibition of Botanical Art in New York, and her work continues to be exhibited and collected internationally.

www.marydillonbotanicalart.com

Instagram: @marydillonartist