Rooted in Chelsea, Flourishing Worldwide

In 2006, eleven graduates from the Botanical Painting Diploma Course at the English Gardening School based at the Chelsea Physic Garden created Amicus Botanicus in order to mount an exhibition following their course.

The internationally renowned Botanical Painting Diploma Course was founded in 1995 by Anne Marie Evans and latterly run by Helen Allen, both distinguished botanical painters. The core members of this group (from Singapore, USA, UK and Japan) with a few more recent graduates, have continued to exhibit together and individually to great acclaim.

The course, under the development of Helen Allen moved to the newly formed Chelsea School of Botanical Art for six years. In 2016 the artists of Amicus Botanicus were delighted to be invited to join forces with the school and form an alumni society. Although neither course exists now, Amicus Botanicus continues to thrive.