Stop Hesitating and Start Creating: The Essential Skills Every Botanical Artist Needs
Build confidence in core watercolour techniques through a structured, self-paced, 3-part course that will develop your skills step-by-step.
“I look at flowers in a completely different way now.”
I used to be a self-taught artist, but Helen’s teaching helped me understand real technique. My paintings already look different from what I was doing before.”
- Priyanka, India
You’re drawn to botanical art and want to create paintings you’re proud of… but it’s been harder than you expected.
You’ve gathered supplies, followed tutorials, taken classes, and practiced whenever you can. But things still feel confusing. It’s not your fault! You’ve simply never been shown a clear, reliable method from the ground up.
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You’re excited by watercolour, but every starting point feels like a maze.
Brushes, palettes, hot and cold pressed paper… Should you start with pans or tubes? And which colours should you buy? Every search leads to more confusion. You just want someone to cut through the confusion and show you what matters.
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You’ve followed tutorial after tutorial, but can’t seem to get past the beginner stage.
On screen everything looks effortless, smooth washes and luminous colour, but your paint streaks and the paper buckles. You’re tired of troubleshooting on your own and never knowing why things go wrong. You want guidance that helps you relax, not adds to your stress.
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You’ve taken classes here and there, but every teacher shows a different way to do things.
You’ve tried to level up beyond YouTube with in-person workshops and online courses, but every teacher has their own approach. You’re left with bits of knowledge, no clear method, and the feeling that you’re still missing the fundamentals.
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You’ve painted for years, but don’t feel like your work reflects your effort.
Some pieces turn out beautifully, others fall flat, and you’re never quite sure why. Your colours behave differently from one day to the next, and layering can feel unpredictable. You want a clear, dependable method so your results match the time and care you put in.
INTRODUCING…
The Botanical Essentials
Inside The Botanical Essentials, I teach you the fundamental botanical watercolour techniques I rely on every time I sit down to paint.
For the first time, I’m offering my fundamentals courses outside of my Botanical Art Membership.
These courses solve the core challenge in botanical painting: learning the core watercolour techniques that let you step away from tutorials and paint with independence.
Instead of spending time on tutorials that contradict each other or projects that overwhelm, you’ll follow a structured path.
I’ve designed bite-sized lessons that fit busy schedules and build on each other, so you learn to glaze in luminous layers, control soft and hard edges at will, and keep pigments fresh instead of muddying your mixes.
With The Botanical Essentials, you’ll learn botanical watercolour the way artists have always built their skills, by mastering essential techniques and understanding how they work together, so you can deploy them in your own paintings.
It’s a foundation you can return to every time you paint.
In a short time, you’ll shift from trying to understand random skills found online to a connected approach that actually works.
🌸 From struggling with random techniques → To understanding how they work together
🌺 From feeling unsure where to start → To knowing what to do at every stage
🌼 From copying others → To creating paintings that are truly yours.
You’ll move beyond imitation and start creating with confidence.
This approach combines my 15 years as a professional botanical artist and teacher with a structured method that’s helped thousands of students build lasting skills and confidence in their painting.
15
years teaching botanical art
Students in
46 different countries
2981
students taught
32
workshops conducted
Traditionally, artists honed their craft under teachers who guided their progress. Not by patching together fragments of knowledge on their own.
J.M.W. Turner, one of the greatest watercolourists, trained at the Royal Academy and studied under the architectural draughtsman Thomas Malton before developing his luminous style.
John Singer Sargent, whose watercolours are still celebrated around the world, studied in Paris under Carolus-Duran before striking out on his own.
Now, I’m not comparing myself to Malton or Carolus-Duran.
And I’m not comparing you to Turner or Sargent.
But I am comparing the method.
For centuries, artists apprenticed with teachers who helped them sharpen the skills they needed to become the artists we know them to be.
We’ve lost that approach in today’s landscape of online tips and tutorials.
That’s where The Botanical Essentials stands apart.
Instead of leaving you to cobble things together, it gives you a step-by-step progression designed to build your skills.
You’ll see how each technique leads naturally to the next.
You’ll feel your understanding deepening, until it all makes sense.
Three Courses to Create a Confident Botanical Art Practice
From Dabbling to Deliberate: Build Your Botanical Base
Let’s stop for a second…
The Botanical Essentials will not turn you into a professional botanical artist overnight.
If you’re hoping to win awards or exhibit at a gallery after a few lessons, this isn’t the course you’re looking for.
But here’s what it will do.
It will change how you approach, practise, and create a painting from start to finish.
Instead of staring at a blank sheet of paper, unsure where to begin, you’ll feel empowered to start painting right away.
Instead of dabbling with random techniques, you’ll understand how and when to use them in your paintings.
Instead of fighting against paint that turns muddy on your paper, you’ll capture the vibrancy and luminosity of watercolour.
More importantly, you’ll gain a foundation that supports you as you step away from tutorials and begin painting on your own.
I’ll help you move from dabbling with tutorials to confidently creating your own botanical paintings.
What’s more helpful?
❌ Collecting random tutorials that lead you into and artistic cul-de-sac,
or,
✅ Developing a foundation of watercolour skills you can draw on every time you paint.
❌ Starting projects you abandon midway,
or,
✅ Completing paintings that come together from first wash to final detail.
By the end of these courses, you’ll have a dependable foundation you can return to whenever you paint.
The Result After Studying The Botanical Essentials?
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You’ll have watched my welcome video and followed three easy steps to get the most out of your course.
You’ll have set up your own painting space to motivate and encourage you to pick up your paints.
You’ll be thinking about your creative rhythm and how art fits into your daily life.
You’ll have completed your first small piece of botanical art, a lovely tulip illustration.
You’ll feel proud, inspired, and excited to keep learning.
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You’ll understand the value of botanical art in history and appreciate the joy it can bring to your life.
You’ll know how to take reference photos and feel ready to build your own photo collection.
You’ll have the essential skills to create your own botanical illustrations, from observation and drawing to identifying tonal values and choosing the right watercolour techniques.
You’ll have found your favourite times to create, maybe quiet early mornings or evenings after work, and painting will become part of your life.
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You’ll understand the value of a limited palette and know the range of colours you can create with just six paints.
You’ll mix natural greens, browns and greys without relying on premixed tubes.
You’ll have a simple colour chart exercise to explore your pigments and build confidence with mixing.
You’ll feel ready and inspired to create more beautiful botanical illustrations.
Ready to paint with confidence instead of confusion?
Start painting today!
Here are the details you need:
Access: Start the moment you enrol. Your lessons unlock instantly and you can begin whenever you’re ready.
Pace: Work at your own speed. You have 12 months to work through the courses. Each lesson is short enough for busy days yet structured to build your skills steadily.
Investment: £197 for all three courses: Fundamentals of Watercolour, Fundamentals of Botanical Art, and Fundamentals of Colour
Enrol Today and Receive Three Creative Bonuses
When you join The Botanical Essentials, you won’t just get the three core courses. You’ll also receive three bonuses I designed to help you put your learning into practice and keep your creativity flowing.
Bonus 1: The Peony Bud Tutorial
Apply your fundamentals by painting a beautiful peony bud.
This guided project follows naturally from the Fundamentals courses, giving you a subject that’s small enough to manage yet rich in detail.
Mix a harmonious palette from a few key pigments.
Control water for smooth, luminous washes.
Layer colour to create vibrant depth.
By the end, you’ll have a finished peony bud painting through a guided process that shows how the fundamentals come together in practice.
Bonus 2: Watercolour Warm-up Exercises
A downloadable PDF guide that describes each watercolour technique clearly, with an individual written description and easy to follow video.
Pick this up when you want to practice your watercolour techniques in more depth, or when you want to warm up before starting a painting.
Easy to access, easy to follow and easy to implement!
Bonus 3: Journal Prompts for Creative Flow
Painting isn’t only about technique. It’s also about time, inspiration, and mindset. These prompts help you:
Reflect on your progress.
Spark new ideas when you feel stuck.
Stay motivated with simple, intentional habits.
Meet Your Teacher: Helen Cousins
I’m Helen Cousins, a botanical illustrator and doctor based in Kent, England.
I’ve been painting since I was young, and I fell in love with botanical art at 18 because of the way it brings science and art together in perfect balance.
While studying medicine, I also completed the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Learning Diploma, graduating with a distinction and the Award for Excellence in 2016.
Since then, I’ve continued to develop my work as both an artist and teacher. I create original illustrations, prints, and commissions, and I teach botanical art through courses, workshops, and my online Membership.
I created The Botanical Essentials to give you a defined starting point in this art form.
These courses cover the core techniques I return to in every painting I make. They’re the skills that let you slow down, connect with your subject, and find both confidence and joy in the process of creating.
Fundamentals of Watercolour
Learn how to set up your space and the materials I recommend. Discover how to stretch watercolour paper and practise foundational watercolour techniques. Finally, bring everything together in a tulip petal project.
Bonus 3: Journal Prompts for Creative Flow
Reflect on your progress, find inspiration and explore your motivations for painting in these journal prompts for artists and creatives.
Bonus 2: Watercolour Warm-up Exercises
Use these exercises as a warm up before painting, or as a tool to help you practice your watercolour techniques - the foundation to everything we do.
Bonus 1: The Peony Bud Tutorial
This achievable project is perfect to continue to build on the skills you’ll learn in the Fundamentals courses.
Fundamentals of Colour
Understand key colour theory and how to use it in your observation and illustration of plants and flowers, as well as in creating some beautiful, and useful, colour charts to guide you as you work.
Here is everything you receive inside the Botanical Essentials Bundle!
Fundamentals of Watercolour
Learn how to set up your space and the materials I recommend. Discover how to stretch watercolour paper and practise foundational watercolour techniques. Finally, bring everything together in a tulip petal project.
VALUED AT:
£97
Fundamentals of Botanical Art
Find inspiration and learn to take reference photographs. Explore the key aspects of drawing, including light and shade, and how they combine to create a realistic illustration. Then transfer your work from cartridge paper to watercolour paper and paint a vibrant orange tulip.
VALUED AT:
£97
Fundamentals of Colour
Understand key colour theory and how to use it in your observation and illustration of plants and flowers, as well as in creating some beautiful, and useful, colour charts to guide you as you work.
VALUED AT:
£76
Bonus 1: The Peony Bud Tutorial
This achievable project is perfect to continue to build on the skills you’ll learn in the Fundamentals courses.
VALUED AT:
£55
Bonus 2: Watercolour Warm-up Exercises
Use these exercises as a warm up before painting, or as a tool to help you practice your watercolour techniques - the foundation to everything we do.
VALUED AT:
£55
Bonus 3: Journal Prompts for Creative Flow
Reflect on your progress, find inspiration and explore your motivations for painting in these journal prompts for artists and creatives.
VALUED AT:
£25
Fundamentals of Botanical Art
Find inspiration and learn to take reference photographs. Explore the key aspects of drawing, including light and shade, and how they combine to create a realistic illustration. Then transfer your work from cartridge paper to watercolour paper and paint a vibrant orange tulip.
observe
•
understand
•
create
•
observe • understand • create •
You’d pay £405 if you purchased everything in the Botanical Essentials Bundle individually.
Instead, you can get everything in the bundle for one low price.
Botanical Essentials
ONE PAYMENT OF
£405 £197
Here's What Students Say About Studying Botanical Art With Me
"Helen's instruction throughout her botanical, watercolour course is rock solid!"
She has taken a lot of care in the production of wonderful videos to assist along the way in the technical aspects of capturing floral beauty.
I am so delighted with this program, and highly recommend it to anybody who is interested in perfecting their botanic painting skill set, or even to develop beginning painting skills.
- Elizabeth K
“Everything about this course is perfect, it's a very clear guide for the watercolour beginner”
Everything about this course is perfect, it's a very clear guide for the watercolour beginner, I love the exact supplies guide, it's very helpful and it prevents from buying unnecessary stuff.
It is beautifully designed and it's a great pleasure following all chapters. Now I only need to practice, practice, practice...
- Agnieszka W
"Helen gives me feedback and encouragement to keep going."
I loved watching Helen on Facebook and YouTube, painting botanical subjects in watercolour. I wanted to improve my drawing and painting skills and found it disheartening to do so alone.
- Sarah, United Kingdom
"I look at flowers in a completely different way now."
I came across Helen’s work on Instagram years ago and was absolutely in love with her paintings.
I look at flowers in a completely different way now. I used to be a self-taught artist but this experience has helped me go beyond just experimenting. I’m learning real technique and I look forward to every painting. They already look so different from what I was doing before.
- Priyanka, India
“I’m new to this and so far all the instruction has been incredibly clear and empathetic to a beginner.”
I feel empowered to continue and like the idea of trusting the process. I’m on a steep learning curve but feel confident with Helen there in the background to support my efforts.
- Jackie, United Kingdom
“Incredibly helpful, especially for an absolute beginner like me.”
Now I even attempt my own little paintings and these fundamentals have been invaluable. Your explanations are clear and inspiring. The drawing and shading videos were especially helpful, it really makes the actual watercolor much easier.
- Alejandra, United States
Your Botanical Art Journey begins here and it’s 100% risk-free.
I completely understand that investing in a course can be scary. That’s why this course comes with a no-hassle 14-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied or you realise it’s just not right for you, simply request a refund within the 14-day return window and I’ll refund you 100%. No questions asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Botanical Essentials is designed for anyone who wants to strengthen their foundations. If you’re completely new to watercolour and botanical art, you’ll find a clear, step-by-step path. If you’ve been painting for a while, you’ll refine your technique and fill in gaps that may be holding you back.
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No. You’ll be guided through drawing exercises that help you to develop accuracy. You don’t need to arrive with drawing skills in place, that’s part of what you’ll learn.
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You’ll need basic watercolour supplies: brushes, paints, paper, and a pencil. I provide a full list of recommended materials inside the course, along with guidance on choosing the right options for your budget.
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Yes. The courses start with the very basics, including how to set up your space, stretch paper, and handle your brush. Even if you’ve never used watercolour before, you’ll be supported from the ground up.
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Each exercise is broken into manageable steps. The projects are designed to be achievable while still stretching your skills. You can rewatch the lessons as many times as you like, and take things at your own pace.
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There’s no fixed schedule. Each lesson is designed to fit into a busy life. You can make progress even if you only have 15–20 minutes a day. You set the pace, and there’s no deadline.
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You’ll have instant access to the Helen Cousins Botanics course platform (The Studio) after purchase.
You can log in on desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile, and the videos will play smoothly on all devices.
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I would never want you to be unhappy. If you are unsatisfied, simply contact me within 14 days of purchase and I’ll give you a full refund.
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You’ll have access to the courses in the bundle for 12 months. Once you enrol, you’ll create an account with my course platform and can return to the lessons whenever you need.
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I’m Helen Cousins, a botanical illustrator and doctor. I’ve been painting botanical subjects since I was 18, and I completed the Society of Botanical Artists Diploma with distinction and the Award for Excellence.
I’ve taught thousands of students through my courses and Membership, helping them develop the confidence to enjoy botanical painting.
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The Botanical Essentials is a self-paced bundle of three foundational courses — Fundamentals of Watercolour, Fundamentals of Botanical Art, and Fundamentals of Colour — along with exclusive bonuses including the Peony Bud Tutorial, Watercolour Warm-Up Exercises, and Journal Prompts for Artists.
It’s perfect if you want to build a strong foundation in botanical watercolour at your own pace, with 12 months’ access to all the lessons and materials.The Membership, on the other hand, includes everything in The Botanical Essentials plus ongoing support and new content each month.
Members get access to regular feedback from me, a supportive community of fellow artists, a library of tutorials, a monthly content calendar, live Q&A sessions, and an optional guided learning pathway.
It’s designed for students who want to continue developing their skills, connect with others, and receive ongoing guidance as they grow.
Something brought you here today.
Maybe it was curiosity.
Maybe it was the wish to paint with more confidence.
If you’ve been hesitating, waiting for the right moment to begin — this is it.
When you understand the fundamentals, everything changes, colours behave, paper cooperates, and each brushstroke feels deliberate.
Start now and build the foundation that every confident artist relies on.
Ready to paint with confidence instead of confusion?
Start painting today!
Here are the details you need:
Access: Start the moment you enrol. Your lessons unlock instantly and you can begin whenever you’re ready.
Pace: Work at your own speed. You have 12 months to work through the courses. Each lesson is short enough for busy days yet structured to build your skills steadily.
Investment: £197 for all three courses: Fundamentals of Watercolour, Fundamentals of Botanical Art, and Fundamentals of Colour, plus bonuses: The Peony Bud Tutorial, Watercolour Warm-up Exercises and Journal Prompts for Creative Flow.
Disclaimer:
The Botanical Essentials bundle is designed for educational purposes to help you develop your botanical watercolour skills. Results will vary depending on your individual effort and engagement with the lessons. No specific outcomes are guaranteed.
All course materials are the intellectual property of Helen Cousins and are provided for personal use only. They may not be shared, reproduced, or distributed without permission.
Helen Cousins and Helen Cousins Botanics are not liable for any loss or damage resulting from the use of these materials.
© Helen Cousins Botanics 2026