Gavin McWilliam is the owner of McWilliam Studio , a Garden Design Studio which has amass more than 30 accolade for their work in the UK and afield .
His most recent accolades with his studio apartment include Best International Garden from The Society of Garden Designer Awards in 2022 ( for his oeuvre on a garden in Portugal over the pandemic ) anda Best In Show award from the APLD .
I spoke with Gavin about the reasons behind a career change from graphic design to gardening , his most memorable projects and where he thinks the manufacture is heading in the next few years .
Where Did Your Interest In Garden Design Come From?
“ It start with an interest in gardens , ” starts Gavin .
“ I loved being outdoors from a very early eld and used to help my dad in the garden . I ’d go down to the greenhouse and propagate things and expect after the garden whilst he was off . I reckon that quite literally sowed the interest in garden .
“ I then go away and did a degree in Graphic Design , but in my mid - twenties , my founding father die , so I re - evaluated where I was happiest and that was in the garden . I did a double-dyed career change and subsequently conk into garden plan . ”
What Inspired You To Start Your Own Studio?
“ I want to design thing and be involved in the environments I was creating , ” he shares .
“ I actually bought a van and went around build smaller gardens . At the same time , I was working with Andrew Wilson and was doing elaborate design body of work with him .
“ We then merged and produce a company together , which we had for 10 age . I postulate that over late . Andrew now focuses on the teaching side of gardening , but we do still work together . ”
How Do You Approach The Design Process At McWilliam Studio?
“ We ’ve refined it into a process that works really well for us and our client in terms of being quite analog .
“ What we ’d normally do is show client the piece of work that we do and see if we are compatible . If we are , we then would bespeak a really detailed brief so we have a clear approximation of what they want for their garden and landscape , and then we ’d do a concept pattern .
“ A construct design is collaborative and we seldom go back to the client with just one design – usually preparing two or three solutions to their legal brief . We ’d normally do a design statement and a master key plan , which does n’t look at detail at this stage and is rather an exploration of the garden on a wider scale .
“ We bring on hand - string visuals that we portray with any entropy we give so they can see what it would reckon like . It ’s all about testing what could be reach in that place . We then talk about the next stride and go from there . ”
What Are Some Of The Most Memorable Projects You’ve Worked On And Why?
“ There are three that I want to share , all of which are quite recent , ” Gavin says .
“ The first of which is from Chelsea of this twelvemonth . We create a garden all about bereavement , and because that was how I commence my life history in gardening almost 25 years ago , it was a personal garden for me .
“ It was a beautiful outer space with dissimilar sections for reflecting . It was incredibly rewarding because of the feedback we got from the visitors and those find out on the television . It did n’t get Gold , but it was invaluable because of its meaning to us .
“ Both of the other memorable projects were produced during the pandemic , which is why they fend out .
“ One was in China and was memorable because it was the first garden that I ’ve done all remotely . I ’ve never stood on this garden , despite the fact I have designed it .
“ It had a really great public response and was a monitor of the body of work I could do even in those clock time and it made the most of what was around them , such as tech , which we were able to utilise .
“ The last garden was in Portugal during the pandemic and was memorable because of the approach we take to the landscape . We lifted the lawn and put in a more Lusitanian backdrop .
“ It was a teetotal river that ran through the garden and was on a really steep hill . It was quite a big build projection and was all done remotely , but I would vaporize out occasionally and then have to come back and quarantine ! ”
What Challenges Have You Faced In Your Career And How Did You Overcome Them?
“ enlisting is a handsome one , ” says Gavin .
“ I mean there ’s a attainment dearth at the knowledgeable layer that we require citizenry at . I think we constantly confront a battle to recruit , but also within garden design , people quite often typeset up for themselves , so it ’s unmanageable to get people in .
“ We ’ve got good retention at my studio , but we would care to raise more . Everyone in the industriousness is await for the same eccentric of people , so that ’s hard too !
“ Giving people the value for landscape is also really hard , and the less people value what is outside , it ’s very difficult to get people to spend money on it and to put a note value to nature . A slew of mass see a garden as something you may just buy off the shelf . ”
What’s The Most Rewarding Aspect Of Your Work?
“ When we achieve that connexion with the client and get to do our work successfully , that ’s the wages . It ’s all about take something that is n’t functional or is neglected and turning it into a space that people and nature can enjoy together .
“ We recently get to turn on a local shoal garden . The garden was neglected but is now full of works for nature and the kids love it .
“ When we get feedback about how client now practice their blank space , that is the most rewarding aspect . ”
What Is The Biggest Lesson Horticulture Has Taught You?
“ That you ’re not in ascendancy and you ca n’t ascertain nature , ” Gavin shares .
“ thing are n’t stark and they will go wrong . A lot is out of your hired hand and you may do things with the expert purpose and they still might not work , as thing deepen seasonally . I think that ’s a good lesson .
“ It also teach you about the resilience of nature and the round of lifetime . I seem to know less every class , as there is always something to learn ! ”
How Do You See The Industry Evolving In The Next Few Years?
“ I retrieve we need to encourage more people into the manufacture at a horticultural level , ” he submit .
“ I am concerned that we are going to see a reduced supply and handiness in plants if we have less people search after them . However , to be optimistic , I think it ’s authoritative to see more plant being rise in the UK than import , and we are starting to see that , which is really exciting .
“ I see problems though , unless we address the skill shortage . That might be a government thing that need call . The demand is still there , but we require hoi polloi to keep up with the supplying . ”
What’s Next For You And The Studio?
“ A vacation ! ” jokes Gavin .
“ For the studio , we ’ve moved into a novel situation , so it ’s been a very engaged 6 months and we have lots of big projection occur through . We ’ve stepped aside from show and require to sharpen more on our portfolio .
“ We need to grow the studio slightly and get a couple more people in , but we also want to get current employee back into the authority too , so we can all work together and wreak back that creative collaboration . ”
What Advice Would You Give To Young Professionals Looking To Make Their Mark In The Design Or Architecture Industry?
“ I would n’t care about make your mark , let that hap over time , ” he counsel .
“ get to out to existing professional person . It ’s a very giving residential area of people who will typically give you a positive reaction if you give out and ask them interrogation .
“ Look at the excogitation courses too … there are loads out there and you may use it to build out your electronic connection . That shared noesis is really important .
“ I ’d advocate taking part in show as it leave you an chance to flesh out your creativity , do things that you ca n’t do on a 24-hour interval - to - daytime fundament and push your portfolio to a extensive consultation . ”
