Sculpture In The Garden

The use of sculpture in the garden can add exciting drama to the landscape. Placement is everything, no matter the piece and thought should be given to the following:

  • The piece should sit well in location taking account of other local features
  • Sculpture should be introduced to the garden in a sympathetic setting
  • Plant to frame the piece with simplicity as mixed planting can confuse the eye. The drama of massed plantings is generally more striking than busy borders; consider framing the piece with large swathes of simplicity. A good hedge can form a lovely backdrop but ensure the hedge is higher than the sculpture so it does not cut through the piece.
  • Consider the context of the piece and the scale – Stags in the woods, Horses in the meadow, Fish in the water…
  • Sculpture works well over water, the reflections adding a further dimension to the piece
  • How can the sculpture be further enhanced? The right base, location, and planting can enhance a sculpture enormously and affect how you interact with it
  • Texture can add another exciting element to the landscape.
Sculpture In The Garden
Sculpture In The Garden

Case Study

Time was taken to source this lovely reclaimed stone plinth for our client to perfectly complement the finish of her garden. It waited patiently for its Armillary to arrive.

Sculpture In The Garden
Sculpture In The Garden

Case Study

Our client had fallen in love with these bronze otters but she wasn’t sure where to place them in their garden and how to mount them to show them at their best. This was quite an investment and they didn’t want to get it wrong so I was asked in to consult on how to place the piece.
Considering the sculpture depicts Otters chasing a fish, I felt they would be ideally located near their large pond which is an environment you would expect to find them in. The area is conveniently overlooked by their conservatory allowing them to view the piece all the time.

The sculpture was mounted on a boulder surrounded by planting as I felt this would be a further enhancement to the piece rather than placing it on an a plinth and the sculptor then attended site to mould the base plate to the boulder with resin in a bronze effect so we had no unsightly gaps.

Otter sculpture in garden design
Otter in garden sculptre - building as backdrop

If you have any sculpture challenges, do call Tina or Liz on 01869 340342 to see if we can help you.

Tina James has been designing gardens with Nicholsons for ten years. Her work includes large and small gardens in town and country locations across the counties including some high profile clients. The designs are carefully thought through to meet the client brief and create beautiful gardens with some of the most beautiful planting schemes you will see anywhere today. With a passion for creating beautiful planting schemes plants usually feature heavily in her designs but always meet the clients expectations for maintenance, even low maintenance planting can be beautiful!

Sculpture In The Garden