‘A Patchwork from the Ragbag of History’ The Contribution of British Artists to Garden Design 1890-1980

Many books and articles have been written about art in the garden, artists who painted gardens and artists who gardened. In recent years several British art galleries have held exhibitions that have featured garden paintings. However, the focus has been on the paintings and their artists, rather than the design of the gardens depicted.

During the period under study, a time of social, cultural and economic change, many British artists designed gardens for themselves and for others. Although earlier studies have assessed the garden designs of some British artists during this period, there has been no overall assessment of their contribution to garden design and garden history. This study has sought to address this and to consider whether artist-gardeners as a distinct group should be accorded greater recognition.