Learn how people 00 from all walks of life are building a botanical art practice 00 that brings them joy.
Erin lives in Montana. Her husband introduced her to watercolours to help with anxiety, and she fell in love with painting florals. After losing some of that joy to perfectionism, she’s now exploring botanical art as a way to slow down, and simply enjoy seeing the paints on paper.
Rob lives in Scotland and began botanical art after retiring from a career in housing. After studying at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, he’s now building a regular practice that deepens his botanical illustration skills.
Emma lives in the UK and is new to watercolour. She currently works as a teacher and uses her painting time both to unwind after busy days and to take her first steps toward a more creative career.
Elizabeth lives in Oregon with her husband and four children. After a break from painting, she’s making it part of her regular routine again, finding joy in reconnecting with creativity alongside the rhythm of family life.
Fiona lives in the UK and began painting in 2020. After switching from coloured pencils, which had become difficult to use due to arthritis in her hands, she's focusing on watercolour and botanical subjects. Having graduated from the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh Diploma, she now enjoys connecting with others who share her love of painting.
Valle lives in Barcelona, where she works and raises her three children. For the past few years, she’s been trying to find time for herself, spending time painting with watercolours.
And each one of these people create beautiful art every week thanks to the support they receive in The Membership.
“This is such a great learning environment!”
I really wanted to learn to paint botanical art at a good level and that is exactly what you get in this course.
This is such a great learning environment! Helen gives you a comprehensive answer to every question you have that you can use to move forward. It has become addictively fun to make time for painting.
- Ilse, Netherlands
Learn how people 00 from all walks of life are building a botanical art practice 00 that brings them joy.
Erin lives in Montana. Her husband introduced her to watercolours to help with anxiety, and she fell in love with painting florals. After losing some of that joy to perfectionism, she’s now exploring botanical art as a way to slow down, and simply enjoy seeing the paints on paper.
Rob lives in Scotland and began botanical art after retiring from a career in housing. After studying at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, he’s now building a regular practice that deepens his botanical illustration skills.
Emma lives in the UK and is new to watercolour. She currently works as a teacher and uses her painting time both to unwind after busy days and to take her first steps toward a more creative career.
Elizabeth lives in Oregon with her husband and four children. After a break from painting, she’s making it part of her regular routine again, finding joy in reconnecting with creativity alongside the rhythm of family life.
Fiona lives in the UK and began painting in 2020. After switching from coloured pencils, which had become difficult to use due to arthritis in her hands, she's focusing on watercolour and botanical subjects. Having graduated from the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh Diploma, she now enjoys connecting with others who share her love of painting.
Valle lives in Barcelona, where she works and raises her three children. For the past few years, she’s been trying to find time for herself, spending time painting with watercolours.
And each one of these people create beautiful art every week thanks to the support they receive in The Membership.
“This is such a great learning environment!”
I really wanted to learn to paint botanical art at a good level and that is exactly what you get in this course.
This is such a great learning environment! Helen gives you a comprehensive answer to every question you have that you can use to move forward. It has become addictively fun to make time for painting.
- Ilse, Netherlands
Hi, I’m Helen. Through The Membership, I help botanical artists build a consistent, satisfying painting practice that fits into real life.
One thing I’ve noticed over and over is this:
Many people love botanical art, but they struggle to keep creating art on their own.
Sometimes it’s a lack of structure.
Sometimes it’s motivation, or confidence, or just too many other things pulling at their time.
And sometimes, they’re doing fine, but they want a more connected, inspiring way to keep going.
If any of that sounds familiar, keep reading.
Because I’ve created something that helps you:
Paint regularly (without pressure)
Build your skills with clarity and focus
And stay connected to your creativity, even when life is full
It all began when I started sharing my work online
When I began learning about botanical art, I started to share my work on my blog and social media.
Over time, I noticed people reaching out to me for advice and support, and that’s how I naturally found my way into teaching.
Initially, I started teaching small workshops, and this has evolved over the last decade into teaching in-person courses and online.
Over the past [X] years, I’ve taught botanical art through in-person workshops, my downloadable guides, and online programs, reaching students in [X] countries.
My approach has helped hundreds of people move past hesitation, develop their skills, and fall in love with the process..
The Membership brings all of that into one place, with the structure, rhythm, and support I’ve seen make the biggest difference.
10+
years teaching botanical art
Students in 25 different countries
500 botanical art guides downloaded
50 in-person workshops taught
“Helen provides guidance and concepts for painting that are not overwhelming.”
“If you are looking for feedback and growth, this is a great way to start botanical art.
Her unique style and her interaction with the members is the best of any of the teachers I have seen. Others provide videos and techniques, but without the feedback, it doesn't allow for growth as much.”
- Anne, USA
“She is endlessly encouraging and works very hard to bring this unique community of artists from all over the World together.”
“I had attended a Class with Helen in the past and enjoyed it so much. Since then I have followed her journey online and finally into The Membership. I decided to join as I really wanted a challenge with careful teaching, and I hope to improve my watercolour technique.”
- Jaine, UK
Introducing The Membership from Helen Cousins Botanics
The Membership is a creative space for botanical artists who want to grow.
Whether you're just starting out or returning after time away, it’s a place to develop your practice with structure, encouragement, and room to move at your own pace.
And, if you want to take things further, there's also a supported path toward submitting your work for exhibition.
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Here are 6 ways The Membership will transform your painting and your life...
NO 1 PEER SUPPORT
The Community
Ask me (and 200+ other fellow artists) anything in our private community.
The Membership community is where you can share your ideas, perspectives, ambitions and barriers with other Members, all of which will help you to feel less alone and well supported no matter what stage of the artistic journey you’re at.
When you join The Membership, you join a community where inspiration, kindness, and encouragement flow freely.
NO 2 FUNDAMENTAL TECHNIQUE
Study watercolour technique with my Fundamentals Courses
When you join you get immediate access to three self-paced courses:
Fundamentals of Watercolour
Fundamentals of Botanical Art
Fundamentals of Colour.
These are all designed to help you understand the basic techniques that allow you to fully immerse yourself in everything The Membership has to offer.
NO 3 SPECIALISED(?) TECHNIQUE AND ARTISTIC SKILL DEVELOPMENT
In depth botanical illustration tutorials
Each month a brand new tutorial is added to The Membership library which you can follow along at your own pace.
Each tutorial subject is chosen based on…..
Every tutorial comes with a downloadable PDF guide that includes information about what materials will be used, reference photos and line drawings, so you’re never stuck wondering where to begin.
NO 4 THE LEARNING PATHWAY
A clear path to mastery
If you’d like more structure in your studies, the learning pathway inside The Membership that gives you a clear sense of progress without adding pressure or deadlines.
From beautiful beginnings to majestic mastery, you can follow the milestones and develop and ??? botanical illustration practice.
NO 5 CREATIVE SIDE QUESTS (?)
Bonus Polaroid Tutorials
Each month a bonus ‘polaroid’ tutorial is added to the library.
These are more relaxed painting sessions to help you:
loosen up
try new things
and explore your own style
NO 6 PERSONAL FEEDBACK
Support and feedback from me
I’m regularly in the community offering detailed feedback and encouragement.
There is also the opportunity for more formalised feedback as part of the curated Learning Pathway.
Here is an example of the type of feedback you can expect to receive…
The approach behind The Membership
Over time, I’ve developed a teaching method that forms the foundation of everything we do inside The Membership that I call the ‘Evergreen Framework’.
It’s built around three core pillars, each one equally important:
Observe. Understand. Create.
Together, they offer a structured approach to learning botanical illustration that helps you slow down, see more, and build lasting confidence in your work.
Observe
Train your eye through close observation of natural forms, noticing structure, shape, and detail before you ever pick up a brush.
Understand
Build practical knowledge of techniques, materials, and form, so you can make thoughtful decisions and develop your own way of working.
Create
Apply what you’ve learned through regular practice, exploring each month’s project in your own time and style, without pressure.
Supported by the Evergreen Framework, if you choose to, you can follow the curated Learning Pathway.
From Beautiful Beginnings to Majestic Mastery
If you’d like more structure in your learning, I’ve created a pathway inside The Membership that gives you a clear sense of progress without adding pressure or deadlines.
It’s completely optional, but many members find it helpful to know what to focus on next and how to track their development over time.
I’ll be here to guide and support you at each step.
Here’s how it works:
Beautiful Beginnings
This is where we start. It’s a recognition that you’ve shown up, carved out time, and are ready to begin.
Perfect Preparation
After you’ve completed the three Fundamentals courses, you’ll have the groundwork in place to move forward with confidence.
Conscious Creativity
At this stage, your skills are growing and your confidence is building. To reach this milestone, you’ll complete 10 tutorials and send me photos of your work for personal feedback.
Effortless Expression
Here, things begin to feel more intuitive. You’ll submit 5 more tutorial pieces, plus 5 original paintings. You’ll also share your work, whether that’s in a local exhibition or simply displayed at home for family and friends.
Majestic Mastery
Your final milestone. You’ll create and submit 3 new pieces for your portfolio, and at least one will be submitted to a national or international exhibition.
This is the kind of structure I wish I had when I was learning. A way to keep moving, stay inspired, and enjoy the process without the stress of fixed timelines.
“ Helen has created and shared a real wealth of experience, knowledge and talent here. She is endlessly encouraging and inventive and works very hard to bring this unique community of artists from all over the World together to flourish, share and enjoy her passion.”
More than just learning to paint, this is a journey to creative confidence and inner calm.
When you join The Membership, you’ll do more than master watercolour techniques and botanical forms.
You’ll discover the joy of creating without fear, the comfort of a paintbrush in hand, and the gentle rhythm of reconnecting with nature, and yourself.
🌼 Grow your skills — from hesitant brushstrokes to confident, expressive botanical pieces.
🧘♀️ Find calm — as you settle into a creative practice that offers space to breathe, reflect, and be present.
💫 Feel empowered — to start painting anytime, with the tools, guidance, and encouragement you need.
🫶 Belong to a safe, nurturing space — where you’re supported, inspired, and free to create without judgement.
Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time, returning after a long break, or wanting to deepen your practice, this membership offers more than lessons…
…it offers a moment of peace in your day, and a return to yourself through art.
What to expect when you join The Membership…
-
You will have watched my welcome video and followed the three easy steps that will set you up to make the most out of your membership.
You will have begun studying one of my Fundamentals courses so that you can move into creating beautiful art with confidence.
You'll have introduced yourself in the community and found reassurance in the stories of other Members.
You'll be thinking about your creative rhythm and how art fits into your daily life.
You will have completed your first small piece of art or a colour mix that turned out just right.
-
You'll have finished studying all three fundamentals courses and completed a handful of paintings or sketches.
You'll have asked a question or two in the community and received personalised feedback from me that helps you build your skills and see the beauty in your art that perhaps you can't see.
You'll have found your favourite moments to create art - maybe quiet early mornings or evenings after work. Painting is becoming part of life.
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You’re becoming more comfortable with composition, a key stage on the road to moving toward creating your own original paintings.
Your brush work is becoming easier and more detailed, allowing you to draw out beautiful details in your work.
Your eye for botanical detail is improving. You see nature differently. You notice colour and form in everyday life.
You regularly check in to The Membership community to share your work and support your new friends.
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You’ll see the early signs of your personal style emerging.
You’ll be working on more complex pieces or experimenting with your own compositions. Getting to this stage is made easier by the support and mentorship provided in The Membership.
At six months you may be gifting your work or entering exhibitions.
Through Helen’s mentorship your confidence as an artist is growing stronger.
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You’ll be living a creative life that feels fulfilling and sustainable.
You’ll have built a body of work, a sense of identity as an artist, and a toolkit of skills you can carry forward.
Art is no longer something you “try to fit in”, it’s something that is a part of your everyday life.