Sandra Wall Armitage

Sandra is a botanical artist working in watercolour. She studied printed textile design at Manchester College of Art in the sixties. After graduating she began teaching in Further Education and also exhibited her paintings in several London Galleries. The vibrant style of her flower paintings led naturally to a successful career designing for the greeting card and gift wrap industry. She has worked for many of the market leaders in the UK including Andrew Brownsword, Hallmark and Ling Publishing. After a highly successful five year period as a contracted artist for Andrew Brownsword, then Hallmark Sandra relinquished her contract to concentrate on painting. Sandra’s success as a painter continues and her vibrant floral watercolours are held in collections worldwide.

In the nineties she produced a top selling range of gift wrap for Henry Ling and Son, (later to become Ling Publishing.) The popularity of this high quality wrap was in part due to the beautifully drawn floral designs and the intricacy of their repeating patterns which are Sandra’s speciality. In 1994 she was contracted by Andrew Brownsword, then Hallmark, working exclusively as a floral artist for their high quality card ranges. After five years Sandra relinquished her contract to concentrate on her painting.

Sandra is a highly competent draftswoman who enjoys working in a variety of media although she specialises in watercolour. Floral subjects are her main interest and she will interpret these in a variety of forms - as studies, still life, garden paintings as well as intricate designs.

Sandra has been tutor for the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Learning Diploma Course since it began and this year in addition will be teaching a class for the Highgate Scientific and Literary Institute for a term. She will also be conducting a workshop for Field Breaks and a 5 day painting holiday in France near Toulouse. Other classes are planned including a new opportunity for mother and daughters and private tuition at her studio in Bedfordshire. See Workshop and Holidays page.

The combination of her textile skills and her detailed flower and plant studies has resulted in her designs being produced on a wide range of products. These span from: furnishing and dress fabrics, home and kitchen wares, to greeting cards, gift wrap, magazine and book illustration. In 2001 she was elected as a member of the Society of Botanical Artists where she has had a successful role for four years as their Publicity Officer. Sandra relinquished this position in June 2009. She is currently in charge of marketing and a Director for BEL Botanical Enterprises Ltd the retail arm of the SBA.

Sandra is passionate about her subject and has combined her career with teaching. She has worked as a part time lecturer throughout the UK passing on her skills to textile students on BA Degree courses. Many of her past students now hold prestigious positions in the textile market. Her reputation has led to her running a number of master classes for design studios in the UK and in Sydney, Australia.