A sketchbook can be many things: to some it is a record of a landscape or people in a cafe prior to painting them; to others it is a visual memory of a traveller's journey, more personal than the image captured by a camera. In this case, it is a beautiful record of one woman's development into a successful botanical artist and should be an inspiration to all those who chance upon it. As part of the Distance Learning Course run by the Society of Botanical Artists, students are required to keep a sketchbook. The one kept by Mary Ann Scott is exceptional. Her book covers the exercises, colour charts and basic preparatory work for each assignment, plus the finished studies ranging from a vignette of alpine flowers to glowing exotic fruit. It is a masterclass for all aspiring botanical artists.
