Artist, Botanist, Creator of planted spaces
Based in Staffordshire, Sophie’s work is inspired by a lifelong love of wild places and natural landscapes. Certain themes run through her work - generous and naturalistic planting, married with an innovative approach to traditional crafts and natural materials.
Sophie’s deep-rooted interest in natural history inspires her work - from her delight at the discovery of Snake’s Head Fritillaries at a local pond as a child, to her attachment to the Euphorbia genus after a career-making trip to the Algarve.
Whilst studying for an MA in Biological Sciences, Sophie further developed her interest in entomology and plant sciences, under the tutorship of George McGavin and Timothy Walker. A diploma in Garden Design confirmed her love of combining Botany with the creation of beautiful spaces, as did time spent as a gardener in various public and private gardens. During this time she was fortunate enough to be mentored by the inspirational Stephen Gamble - a horticultural hero of hers.
From starting an Eco Club as a schoolgirl, to later teaching Environmental and Land-Based Science to pupils at a secondary school, from running family-friendly sessions at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History to writing about foraging for Country Living Magazine, Sophie is passionate about sharing her knowledge and love of the natural world at every opportunity.
Sophie believes successful garden designs provide for the entire ecosystem, allowing habitat creation and combining native species with ornamentals chosen to boost biodiversity.
She has recently taken on the stewardship of a small farm in Staffordshire. This will function as a ‘living lab’ where the studio’s work in both public space and private garden design will be complemented and informed by an experimental approach to regenerative land management and horticulture.