BOTANICAL Atelier is one of Falmouth's newest shops, having opened in Arwenack Street just over a week ago.

It is owned by Sarah Jane Humphrey, who fell in love with the town whilst studying an Illustration degree at Falmouth School of Arts in the mid-1990s.

She said: "Living with an abundance of floral hedgerows and exotic looking coastlines, there is never a shortage of beautiful plants and wondrous specimens to draw. I maintained a flow of commissions since leaving school, through university years and thankfully it continued after graduating."

Sarah Jane, originally from Cambridgeshire, won a prestigious gold award from the Royal Horticultural Society earlier this year for her collection of ‘Medicinal fruits and the Symbiosis with their Pollinators’, which are on display in the shop.

In the previous two years she won a Silver and Silver Gilt.

She has also had a book published this year, which was entirely written and illustrated by her, called ‘Botanical Art with Scientific Illustration’.

It sold more copies in the first two months than the publishers had expected to sell in a year, and also became an Amazon best seller.

Of her new venture in Arwenack Street, she said: "It's very much inspired by living here on the South Coast in Cornwall and frequent visits to my parents home in France.

"The natural progression from teaching hundreds of people Botanical Illustration at my workshops every year, and a love for aesthetic and functional products led to the launch of Botanical Atelier.

"The shop, in essence is a further commitment to my existing projects. Building a community of artists and like minded creatives in a calm and mindful space. Learn new skills, of an authentic and candid structure within the heart of Falmouth. I have an exciting programme of workshops ahead led by myself and also some inspiring guest hosts, from all kinds of Botanical orientated backgrounds."

Sarah Jane hosts botanical illustration classes every Tuesday from 10am - 11am for £10.

Each week covers a different genre of illustration.

For more information visit botanicalatelier.co.uk/collections/originals

You can also follow Sarah Jane on Twitter and via the Botanical Atelier facebook page.