Autumn botanical workshop with Isik Güner from October 12th to 18th 2025
 

She studied Environmental Engineering at Marmara University in Istanbul. After her graduation, 2006, she began working full time as a Botanical Artist. She has been prepared 40 plates for the book ‘Plants from the Woods and Forest of Chile’. Completing this book project took seven years and published in 2015 by RBGE. During this project, many of her paintings awarded with ‘Gold Medal’ and selected ‘Best in Show’ in international botanical art exhibitions at ‘RHS, London’ and ‘Biscot, Edinburgh’. In addition, the book has been awarded ‘Excellence in Botanical Art and Illustration’ in 2017. Following years, she involved with ‘Transylvania Florilegium’ book project was being created under the organization of the Prince Wales. ‘Beauty of Orchids, China’ and ‘Plants of Nepal’ were conservation plants projects that focused on endangered and medicinal plants. Some of her paintings from these projects are in the ‘Shirley Sherwood collection’, London and ‘Hunt Institute’, USA. She is currently working as a tutor at Diploma Botanical Illustration at Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh and as an art editor of ‘Illustrated Flora of Turkey’. Her education book ‘Botanical Illustration from life’ has been recently published in four languages; Turkish, English, Spanish, French and Korean. Chinese edition is currently being translated.

She is travelling very often after plants to illustrate and organizing many workshops around the world. Currently she is living in Fırtına Valley, North east of Turkey, where the mountains are. 

This week invites you to explore the art of botanical illustration through the theme of autumn, with a special focus on the majestic larches of the Engadine. Nestled in the heart of the valley, the picturesque village of Pontresina offers the perfect setting to capture the beauty of the alpine landscapes and local plants.

Over the course of the days, we will closely study the larches and their golden needles while exploring the incredible diversity of the Engadine flora in autumn, a time when the forests are adorned with vibrant colors and the mountains are shrouded in mist. You will be guided through each essential step of traditional botanical illustration, from the measuring of the plant to the watercolor techniques. 

Each morning, Işık will demonstrate the different techniques and approaches that achieve life-like paintings. You may choose your own specimen on which to practice and to complete under Işık’s guidance. The classes will help you to combine a scientific accuracy with an aesthetic vision to create beautiful botanical paintings.  

During the week, we will have the opportunity to enjoy a guided walk through the woods to learn about the phenomenon of the golden larches, as well as the importance of forests in high-altitude villages like Pontresina. We’ll explore the types of trees and the general flora that thrive in this unique environment.

One afternoon, we will also visit a very special and hidden location on the shore of Lake St. Moritz: the former home (now museum) of Swiss artist Mili Weber (1891-1978), who dedicated her life to depicting nature, primarily through watercolor. We’ll have the chance to view some of her original works.

The Mili Weber Museum is of national importance and is protected as a historical site. Mili Weber (1891-1978) was a Swiss artist illustrator of various fairy tales, well-known for her flower children and her interpretation of nature which was her main theme. She worked primarily in watercolor.

In Mili Weber’s works, flowers are given a life of their own – for they take the form of children, growing out of a bud, with blossom wings that carry them up into the sky, the flower stem extending over their heads like a protective umbrella. In Mili Weber’s world, everything is alive: blossom petals falling into the water become swans, fuchsias serve as a team of horses pulling a carriage, and rays of light appear as harp strings.

More than just a house: Mili Weber transformed her home into a magical work of art, where walls and ceilings are becoming her canvas. You will have the chance to see her original work through a private guided tour of her house now the museum.

.

Pontresina is situated in a wind-sheltered valley at 1805 meters above sea level and a mere 10 minutes drive from well known St-Moritz. The village of Pontresina is very close to the Bernina Massif with the two most famous peaks of the Engadine : Piz Palü and Piz Bernina. Standing at 4049 meters, the Bernina is the highest peak in the Eastern Alps. The main actress here is nature herself. She has all the space she needs to thrive and grants her visitors endless possibilities to enjoy her beauty. 

We will be staying in a beautiful hotel located in the heart of Pontresina, in a traditional Art Nouveau house founded in 1881. The hotel offers a perfect blend of comfort, tradition, and modern amenities, such as fitness and wellness area. Each participant will have it’s own room with ensuite bathroom and view on the mountains.

We’ll enjoy local and homemade delicious food. 

If you’re arriving by plane the closest international airport is Zurich. And from there the easiest way to reach Pontresina is by train. The train station is within the airport. It’s approximately 3h40 depending on the connections and the journey with the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) from Chur is one of the most scenic and interesting  train routes in Europe with it’s tunnels and dizzying viaducts. In 2008 the Rhaetian Railway Albula and Bernina lines became UNESCO World Heritage sites. So take the train, it’s worth the ride!

Online timetable at: www.sbb.ch

By Car:

You can easily reach the Engadine by car from any part of Switzerland or from Italy, Germany or Austria:

• Zurich – Pontresina: 200 km, 3 hours

• Milan – Pontresina: 175 KM, 3 hours

• Munich – Pontrasina: 300 KM, 4 hours

• Basel – Pontresina: 250km, 4 hours

In case of snowdrifts, crossing the passes is only permitted with snow chains or in 4X4 cars. Please check the road conditions map for the passes.