Garden Designer
"Overall this course has given exactly what I required and more, providing the perfect foundations for a career in garden design, and giving me the ability and confidence to deliver exceptional design work, but most of all it has been great fun!"
What was your background before KLC?
A career in institutional and corporate investment management, specialising in foreign exchange risk. Roles included senior and management positions in trade execution, marketing, client relations and operations.
Why did you decide to study Garden Design?
I’ve always had a fervent interest in art, design, gardens and landscapes, part nurtured and undoubtedly influenced by my parents; one an art gallery owner and the other a floral designer, it has been satisfied to date with associated reading and visits to; garden shows, public gardens, galleries and exhibitions. This coupled with strong desire to fully explore my suppressed creative ability and learn new skills has led me to study garden design. Additionally I am now keen to pursue a new career driven by passion, which is varied, fulfilling, challenging and long lasting.
What did you think of the course?
Extremely detailed instruction to the fundamentals, exploring the key elements and providing a comprehensive guide to principles of garden design. Expert instruction provided for a range of illustration and graphic skills from simple drawing techniques to 3D technical design. Well informed introductions to history, plant science and construction.
Exposure to garden design luminaries and the ability to gain practical experience in various esteemed locations and related businesses. Broad and varied projects that provide a ‘real’ experience, giving a true insight into complexity, effort and knowledge required to operate efficiently and successfully in this field.
Overall this course has given exactly what I required and more, providing the perfect foundations for a career in garden design, and giving me the ability and confidence to deliver exceptional design work, but most of all it has been great fun!
What are your design interests/strengths?
As a recent graduate, my experience is predominately theoretical, so my main interest is to gain as much practical design exposure as possible across a spectrum of different projects, from small domestic gardens to large commercial development projects.
I’m keen to create outdoor designs that exploit the given space proficiently, daringly and beautifully. My strengths include: listening and communication skills and understand a project brief, delivering a comprehensive design, strong conceptual ideas and design abilities and digital illustration skills.
Which are your favourite gardens?
I still have so many to see! Where ever I travel, I always feel the need to seek out and visit the local gardens; thankfully my family feels the same way. I consistently take inspiration from these visits, be it from entire layouts or simply small intricate design elements, every garden will provide some stimulus, often it’s important to also see when something doesn’t work!
In terms of familiar gardens, extremely memorable visits include The Alhambra, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Le Jardin Plume, Aberglasney, and Bury Court to name a few…
Who is your favourite designer?
The list is endless, so many have inspired me. If I had to single one out it would be Tom Stuart-Smith, with his extraordinary planting knowledge and huge range of styles, he delivers striking designs that have been both bravely simplistic and marvelously complex.
