ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE
BILLY SHOWELL
BOTANICAL ARTIST BILLY SHOWELL IS NOT ONLY A PAINTER BUT ALSO AN ILLUSTRATOR, TUTOR AND AUTHOR. AN ARTIST OF MANY TALENTS, SHE CONTINUES TO SHARE HER PASSION FOR BOTANICAL ART THROUGHOUT KENT AND FAR BEYOND.
Billy, please tell us about your artist journey so far. I’ ve been teaching and painting for most of my career. I started off thinking that I was going to be a fashion designer and then realised very quickly that I just really loved drawing. I wanted to spend all my time drawing and painting, and try to make a living that way. It’ s not been easy. I’ ve had to have many irons in many fires, as they say.
Over the years I’ ve worked as a commercial illustrator, written books, designed greetings cards and prints, exhibited in many exhibitions, joined societies and provided demonstrations and art classes. It’ s been an interesting and varied way of making a living, and I have loved every minute. I’ ve just completed writing my fifth book on watercolour painting and continue to teach at home, abroad and online.
What has been one of your most memorable moments throughout your artistic career? Nothing beats your first award. When I started painting botanically, I applied for and was made a member of the Society of Botanical Artists. In my first year I won a certificate of botanical merit( an award for perfection). This was so exciting because I had joined without really knowing much about botanical painting.
I also remember a really good moment when my children were little and we were camping at an art fair; I hadn’ t sold very much over the three days but on the last day somebody approached me and said they were interested in all the paintings on the wall and could I
bring them to their house to see how they looked in their living room. I told my boys if it goes well, it’ ll be a fish and chip supper in the pub, and if the paintings don’ t get bought, we’ ll still celebrate in the tent. That night we had dinner in the pub.
What are the primary materials you tend to use when creating your artwork? Last year, I was invited to become an ambassador for St Cuthbert Mills because I absolutely love their high-white, hotpressed Saunders Waterford ® paper. I have been using that for my botanical work for the last four or five years and it is wonderful. I am also an ambassador for Sennelier Paints, a French brand I have used for nearly 20 years that are my‘ go-to’ paints.
I have actually developed my own brand of brushes( which I sell on my online shop), made especially to my requirements, as I couldn’ t find brushes with the point I need.
What do you love about Kent as an artist, especially during harvest season? I love living in Kent; we live on a farm that used to grow apples and I always looked forward to the blossom with such anticipation every spring. The farm has gradually moved over to growing grapes, which is not so pretty, but it is a quieter form of farming, so that’ s nice.
I love that Kent is so green; I always pinch myself that I live in such a beautiful part of the country. I love the hills, the hedges, the trees and walking my dog in such a wonderful landscape. My phone is overwhelmed with local photographs of
landscapes and sunsets.
You started The Billy Showell School of Botanical Art; can you tell us about the school? I started the botanical art school 12 years ago- at the time there weren’ t many people teaching botanical art online; of course, now there is a plethora. However, the videophotographer who I work with and I decided to offer two tutorials a month so that students get consistent encouragement and inspiration throughout the year. It’ s a lot of work. There is a lot of planning, filming and editing; we also have an online forum where the students can share their work and encourage one another. I love seeing the students’ work develop and become more confident as time goes by.
Do you have any exciting projects coming up? I have just completed my fifth book with Search Press, Tunbridge Wells. Publishing in 2027, it will be called Botanical Art and Beyond; Babs for short! Basically, it describes my approach to botanical painting, which is not an illustration but more of a softer, more artistic approach.
I am also launching a new online school for beginners in watercolour painting- Begin with Billy. This is not botanical art, but lots of nice small watercolour projects for budding artists with no experience, with easy-to-follow tutorials on how to create some really sweet little paintings.
billyshowell. com billy _ showell
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