Leigh Ann is a British born professional botanical artist, tutor, and author. She 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. Leigh Ann is a Fellow member of the SBA.
Over the years Leigh Ann has been awarded medals for her work and has exhibited extensively around the world. Many of her paintings are held in private collections in the UK and internationally, and in permanent collections including the Royal Archives, the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh, USA and Sydney Botanic Gardens, Australia.
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. She is a co-founder of the Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens 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 teaching studio near Horsham, and at various locations throughout Sussex, Surrey, and London. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she is renowned for her encouraging and supportive approach to teaching all abilities and is a highly regarded mentor and adviser on the art of botanical painting. She is a member of the tutoring team for the SBA Distance Learning Diploma Course.
Leigh Ann has written three books about botanical illustration and her methods published by The Crowood Press: ‘Botanical Illustration – the complete guide’ (2018 HB, 2023 PB) ‘Colour for Botanical Artists and Illustrators’ (2021) and ‘Drawing & Painting Leaves’ (2025).
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 and @leighann3518