Eton College Workshop
On the 12th March 2020 I was invited to teach a Botanical Illustration Workshop at Eton College. Having recently moved to Eton, my life feels somewhat entwined with the college life - the boys often congregate in a cafe a few doors down from my house, and it’s only a few seconds walk from home to the Eton College Chapel.
That being said, it was still a huge surprise when I got an email from one of the biology teachers at the College, asking me if I could teach an evening workshop for some of the boys, who are interested in both art and science.
Eton College Chapel
One of the teachers very kindly took me on a tour of the College, before I joined some of the teachers for dinner in the dining room. It’s a wonderful mix of 16th century and modern architecture - lots of brickwork and glass. The science department, where I taught, had a wide open balcony on either side, with views looking over Windsor Castle and the College playing fields. Beautiful.
I hadn’t taught children before, although these “children” were between the ages of 14 and 18, and were extremely competent. They grasped the concept immediately, and threw themselves into the challenge of dissecting, studying, and drawing the little primula flowers I had chosen for the evening. We were also joined by some of the biology teachers, who although keen to learn, proceeded with the trepidation that comes with learning a new skill later on in life!
We focused on creating a pencil line drawing, and then an ink drawing, with stippling tone added if the students had time. It was lovely to see them all come away with a drawing in both pencil and ink. One of the boys emailed the biology teacher the next day asking when the next one will be, so, watch this space. I’d love to take them through the application of watercolour next.