Valerie Oxley

Valerie trained as a teacher at Hereford College of Education specialising in Comparative European Drama and Literature. Interest in wild flowers, the countryside and drawing were pleasurable hobbies during the early part of her career.

Following a short course in botanical illustration at Denman College in 1980 tutored by Margaret Merritt, she began to focus on plant drawing and was invited by the National Federation of Women's Institutes to demonstrate the art of botanical illustration at the Royal Agricultural Show, Warwickshire and at Olympia, London. Coloured pencils were used during these demonstrations and the general public were fascinated by the versatility of 'children's crayons!' An invitation to teach at Denman College and to serve on the NFWI combined arts committee enabled Valerie to combine her interest in both art and drama.

Valerie has tutored on study tours to the Canary Islands, the South of France and Madeira and presently tutors on short courses throughout the UK using a variety of media, including some courses specialising solely in coloured pencil techniques. She developed the Diploma in Botanical Illustration for the University of Sheffield and Open College Network courses in botanical illustration for Oxford OCN and South Yorkshire OCN.

She is presently the Chairman of the Florilegium Society at Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Vice President of the Northern Society for Botanical Art and a member of the Society of Botanical Artists.

Contact details:

Telephone: 01709 813451
E-mail: valerie.oxley[at]btinternet.com

Brochure available for countrywide short residential courses and day workshops in botanical illustration. Please also see the Workshops page for details of courses in botanical illustration using coloured pencils.