Susie Cour-Palais has always been inspired by the beauty, structure and intricacy of plants and this – coupled with a passion for drawing - was the irresistible pull which led her to the Chelsea School of Botanical Art diploma course in 2015, graduating in 2019.

Despite a biological sciences background and dabbling in botanical sketchbooks, watercolour painting and natural history interests since her earliest days; Susie’s life went in other directions in the business world until a brief taster of botanical art with renowned teacher, Anne-Marie Evans, at Chelsea Physic Garden in 2004 opened her eyes to a captivating world where art and science meet.

Susie lives part of the year on the Beara Peninsula in southwest Ireland, and the landscape and wild plants in this untouched region are a constant source of inspiration.

Susie was accepted as a member of Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society in 2023. She is also an Associate member of the Eden Project Florilegium Society and the Hampton Court Palace Florilegium Society. She keeps her fascination for the botanical world current as an active member of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) and the Wild Flower Society and is a recent convert to the entrancing, miniature world of bryophytes, which she has full rein to explore in the relict Atlantic rain forests of the west of Ireland!