When I left school I studied art and design, which I absolutely loved….but life has a way of taking turns you don’t expect and for the majority of my working life I have been in the corporate world. Customer service, project management and communications have always been key themes in everything I’ve done in a fast paced, hard-working environment. Art and design have stayed very close to my heart and my love for gardens, museums, art galleries and the theatre has flourished through my life…retaining that connection to ‘all things beautiful’!

In 2013, having owned a small house for a few years, I took my first trip to the Chelsea Flower Show and I saw a whole new world which wasn’t simply about plants and flowers. Whilst they are the ‘dressing’ and need to be selected carefully; I realised that focus must also be on the design. The visit showed me how a space can be made into something really special which takes into consideration the situation, the building connected to that space and somewhere where you just want to ‘be’. The next day, a sledge hammer was taken to my paved garden and my first attempts at garden design and nurturing plants began. I learnt so much by having that hands on experience - and certainly made a few mistakes! But the beautiful garden I’d dreamed of gradually turned into reality and a new passion for gardening and making the best use of each and every space, however small, was found.

Fast forward 8 years, living in central London and in the midst of the Covid pandemic, I was suddenly thinking: I need to reboot my creative passion and do something different!

I spent a few weeks thinking about possible alternative career options and then wondered if I could balance my corporate life with something more creative...going back to my roots of art and design, but still using the themes I enjoy in my day job: being organised, creating great customer experiences and communicating imaginatively and effectively. I explored a few avenues, but the love of art and the garden trampled over everything else, and the path became clear - garden design was what it just had to be.

Researching multiple courses, the Society of Garden Designers recognised Garden Design Diploma course at the Oxford College of Garden Design suited not only my timetable, but I also loved that it covered so many elements, providing a broad and in-depth knowledge of all aspects. I reduced my hours at work and returned to study in April 2021.

Learning a whole new set of skills, principles, techniques and technologies was both rewarding and challenging. I learnt SO much and am in the early phases of putting all I’ve learned into practice….AND I AM LOVING IT! It is so exciting to see spaces I have designed with plants starting to grow.

I’m based in central London and am happy to chat with you about your desires for your outside space before you take the plunge of a re-design. Balconies, terraces, gardens - they can all become an extension of your home and your place to really connect with the outside world….something which I have always found extremely important to me personally.