Based in West Sussex, Vanessa brings a creative background and a lifelong love of gardens to her work as a garden designer. With a degree in Design Management and a postgraduate qualification in Creative Advertising, she spent over 20 years as an art director and designer before retraining in garden design.
She graduated with distinction from the British Institute of Garden Design and has since focused on creating thoughtful, characterful gardens.
Style and Approach
Vanessa is particularly drawn to Mediterranean, country and cottage-style gardens, creating spaces with layered planting, soft structure and rich texture. Her background in the creative industries has given her a strong eye for composition, colour and atmosphere, bringing a distinctive visual approach to every project.
She believes great garden design should be both beautiful and practical. By incorporating AI into her creative process, Vanessa is able to develop and refine bespoke garden concepts quickly, helping clients visualise their outdoor spaces while making professional design more accessible and affordable.
She cares deeply about creating gardens that feel good to live in and are kinder to the environment. Vanessa favours thoughtful planting and environmentally conscious choices wherever possible, aiming to design spaces that support nature as well as the people who enjoy them.
Background
Her own garden has been a testing ground for ideas and inspiration. A complete redesign — documented in before and after photos (see 'A Before and After Story') — helped her refine her approach and experiment with planting combinations, structure, and flow.
Her own garden has been a testing ground for ideas and inspiration. A complete redesign — documented in before and after photos (see 'A Before and After Story') — helped her refine her approach and experiment with planting combinations, structure, and flow.
Now working across West Sussex and neighbouring areas, she collaborates with clients to shape gardens that reflect their style, suit their lifestyle, and evolve beautifully over time.
