"BREATH OF RENEWAL" Painting

My journey into botanical art began with a simple desire to slow down and truly observe nature. After more than 30 years working in international business, I chose a different path and began painting. What started as a creative pursuit became a deeper way of seeing and connecting with the natural world.

As a London-based botanical artist, I combine careful botanical observation with an artistic and emotional approach. I study each plant closely to capture its shape, movement, texture and individuality — from elegant flowers and fruits to playful vegetables with unexpected expressions and humour. Finding personality and mood in the botanical world has become an important part of my artistic language, although my work remains rooted in precise observational study.

I work primarily in watercolour, building each painting through delicate transparent layers to create depth, luminosity and a sense of life. My botanical paintings often explore the quiet emotions and stories that can be found in nature, inviting the viewer to pause and look more closely.

My relationship with painting also led me to create **Painting with Inessa**, an art course designed especially for people with no previous painting experience who want to slow down, reconnect with nature, discover their own creativity and create their own botanical artwork. Through observation, colour and mindful painting, I encourage students to approach art with curiosity and confidence rather than the pressure of perfection.

Art has also been an important part of my own periods of reflection and personal change. Through my paintings, I hope to bring a sense of calm, joy and connection with nature into people's homes and everyday lives.

I hold a Diploma from the Society of Botanical Artists and a certificate from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. I am a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, a member of the Society of Botanical Artists and the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society. My work has been exhibited widely across the UK and internationally, including at The Mall Galleries, Green@Stone and Chelsea Old Town Hall. My paintings are held in private collections across Europe, the USA and Australia.