Faculty Notes | Sharon Birzer | 2024-2025

In 2024, Sharon Birzer was awarded the RBGE Diploma in Botanical Illustration, with Distinction. Offered by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), this diploma is a certified, comprehensive program designed for those seeking to advance their botanical illustration skills to a professional level.

The distance learning format spans three years and includes instruction from expert tutors based at RBGE in Edinburgh. The program emphasizes the foundational techniques of botanical illustration, including observational drawing, pen and ink, color pencil, and watercolor on paper and vellum.

Throughout the program, students develop a deep understanding of plant form and structure and learn how to translate botanical accuracy into accurate and elegant illustrations. A dedicated botanist is available to support scientific accuracy and guide students throughout the course.

The final year culminates in an extensive research and illustration project, with students selecting a subject of personal or scientific interest. My final project, “Wildflowers of the Garry Oak Ecosystem,” highlights native plant species found in one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America.