The Garden Gallery by Rachel Bebb & John Garfield

The Garden Gallery exhibits sculpture, ceramics, glass and furniture for gardens by contemporary artists.  During the years I worked as a garden designer prior to opening the gallery in 1994, I became aware that many people would buy art and craft for their homes, but not their gardens.  There is a wealth of artistic talent creating works of art for gardens, both in the UK and abroad, which deserves recognition and support.  The Garden Gallery gives artists the opportunity to display their work, and the rest of us the chance to enhance our gardens by becoming patrons of art.

I am fortunate to have a mature garden with several ‘rooms’ and quiet planting, the emphasis of which is on form, texture and subtle tones.  This combination lends itself to the placing of sculpture in harmony with its surroundings.  In the way that thoughtful framing of a painting enhances and completes the picture, careful positioning of sculpture in the garden gives a new dimension to both the work of art and its setting.  The elemental nature of stone, bronze, clay, glass, steel and wood creates an empathy with trees, plants, landscape, water and light and a mutually beneficial relationship develops.

People are devoting more time, care and attention to the treatment of their outdoor rooms, whether starting from scratch or redesigning a garden.  Those with a discerning eye and an understanding of the create e process appreciate a sculpture, a fine pot or an imaginatively designed bench in their gardens which resonates with the imagination and skill of the person who made it.  A mass-produced alternative made by a machine is a soulless substitute.  Increased opportunities to view sculpture in gardens have, I believe, led to a more confident outlook on the part of buyers, widening the scope for artists to express themselves boldly through their work.

Funding from the lottery in recent years has stimulated the provision of grants from other sources to spend on art in public places.  Increasingly new development allows for works of art to be commissioned as part of a project from the start, rather than as a cursory extra at the end if there are any pennies left in the budget.  The value of incorporating art into any new scheme is now widely recognised and understood.  Art not only enhances the quality of its immediate setting – the places where we live, work, play, learn and shop – it enhances the quality of our lives.

John Garfield’s beautiful photographs speak eloquently of the empathy which can exist between art and gardens.  I hope this book will contribute to the growing awareness of this relationship, enabling more artists to create works of art for gardens.  As Ray Kipling states in his Foreword, all proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to commission Tracey Sheppard FGE to engrave two glass windows for the Butterfly Suites at Naomi House. Tracey’s exquisite work, while retaining a sense of mystery, is imbued with joy, beauty and hope and it is my hope that it will bring some comfort and provide a focus for quiet contemplation and reflection.

Copies can be obtained by calling the Merchandise Team on 01962 870810 at a cost of £10, all proceeds to go to Naomi House.