Art & Sculpture

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There is no question that our created landscapes and gardens can be their own living art forms, and sometimes their creation is directly led by the lessons of the natural [or wild] landscapes around us. 

The ‘naturalistic’ movement in garden design is currently a strong and important force, and one of the many other styles and genres throughout garden history.

Throughout history, gardens have been decorated with many things, from fountains and statuary, bird baths, trelliswork, aviaries, and follies, right up to modern day abstract earthworks.


Something that can work very well in the natural landscape is sculpture derived from botanical forms, such as the contemporary work of Mike Bigland or Nigel Williams.

The German for garden is [appropriately] after all Garten!

Art in the Garten is as strong as ever, and comes in many guises. It is also the most likely element of any garden to stimulate opinion from the viewer! 

Just as in viewing an art gallery or an art book, we know what we like. So therefore, when placing art into our gardens, we tend to invite responses.

That is not a bad thing, but it does emphasize just how important and personal the art is, and to who we place it for.

It is not a simple task to put into words any guidelines for selecting art for the garden, but worth noting that most art can be treated as moveable, just like garden furniture, so it can be as simple as finding the right location for the piece of art you like. I suggest a primary rule of acquisition is that you love the piece first! 

Using art [particularly sculpture], in the garden offers an enormously satisfying level of creative expression in the home landscape, this is not controlled by the necessary requirements of the living plants or hardscape, which make up the rest of the garden.

This is an increasing area of interest in garden design, and really has no bounds.

There are incredibly creative works from superbly talented artisans, which can make your own landscape totally unique.