Garden art and sculpture add atmosphere and interest to the garden throughout the year.
The sculptures look just as beautiful in winter as they do in summer.
You can create a focal point or define a part of your garden. Or you can add contrast or emphasize a theme.
Purchasing individual pieces of art allows your garden to reflect your personal style.
Garden art at Saville Gardens, Windsor. Clockwise from top: “Encircled Core 1” by Julie Simpson, “English Native Woodland Creatures” by Katie Netley, and “Goddess” by Friedel Buecking.
Ideas from Savile Garden “Art in the Garden”
So I visited Savile Gardens. The annual “Art in the Garden” exhibition is held there in collaboration with the Surrey Sculpture Society.
Art and sculptures by various artists are displayed around the beautiful gardens. It’s a great way to get ideas for where and how you can use art in your own garden.
Savile Gardens at Windsor Great Park is a 35-acre garden. With bog gardens, dry gardens, lakes, woodlands, rose gardens and spectacular grass borders, there’s sure to be something to enjoy, whether your garden is wild or formal. This year’s “Art in the Garden” will be held from September 11th to October 29th.
How to choose garden art and sculptures
I asked four of the artists exhibiting at Saville Gardens, as well as Saville Gardens horticulturist Heather King, for tips on choosing garden art and sculpture. They were Caroline Wheaton, Nicci Fairbank, Julie Simpson and Marie Boyle.
Heather King will help you choose which sculptures to include in your exhibition and decide where to display them.
She will first consider submissions from artists from the Surrey Sculpture Society.
If you’re looking for your own garden, it’s the same thing as looking at as much garden art as possible. Make an effort to see the art and sculptures within the gardens by visiting the sculpture garden and special exhibitions.
Classical sculpture “Galatea” by Malcolm West. Looking at the art in your garden will help you decide whether you want classic or figurative pieces, or if your style is more modern. Heather King chose classic pieces that would be appropriate for a formal setting such as a rose garden.
As well as Saville Gardens, the Surrey Sculpture Society also holds exhibitions at Leonardslee Gardens. The International Sculpture Center in the United States lists sculpture gardens from around the world.
Then type “sculpture gardens near me” into your search engine.
“The Voyage” by Friedel Bücking. Contemporary and colorful – add interest to often overlooked corners.
Think about the theme and style of your garden
There are no rules about what sculptures should go in which style of garden, but there are some helpful starting points.
What is your garden style? Modern, colourful, traditional, ‘English countryside’ or a cottage garden? If you’re still planning your garden, read ‘Garden Style Ideas and How to Choose a Garden Style’.
You can link garden art to your garden style, such as placing classic figures next to a rose garden.
Or you can contrast them. Savile Garden has some stunning borders surrounded by traditional herbaceous plants. We combined them with two contemporary pieces.
However, they are visually linked to the border in a different way. “The Goddess” by Friedel Bücking reflects the pinks and purples of herbaceous borders. And the pyramid trio reflects other border plantings on its mirrored sides. That’s wonderful.
Friedel Bücking’s ‘The Goddess’ shows how a modern piece can look beautiful in a traditional setting. Consider how the color and material of the sculpture will look against the plantings. The color of this grassy border pairs well with the goddess.
“Trio of the Pyramids” Tribute to Life by Richard Heron. The mirror surfaces of these pyramids reflect the plantings. That’s wonderful.
Trio of Pyramids – Tribute to Life by Richard Heron. The three pyramids stand in an open space between two herbaceous borders, reflecting the plantings from different angles.
talk to the artist
All of the sculptors said that once they found a style they liked, they consulted the artist about where and how to place the sculptures.
Please consider space. Do you want to place a large piece in an open space, for example on a lawn? It can add focus and differentiation.
Cherish those who support us by Marie Boyle. This is a life-sized piece and was placed in a grassy area between two paths in Savile Gardens. Marie says you don’t need to have a big garden to place a large sculpture, but it’s essential to talk to your artist about how to secure a large sculpture. Make sure that children do not swing it around or people knock it over.
Besieged Core 1 by Julie Simpson. This is a small piece, raised on a pedestal to create a focal point at the bottom of the staircase. Julie says they can be placed on the ground to mark paths and boundaries. It is made of jesmonite of various sizes. “You can play with perspective by placing a series of stones away from your house, with the largest ones closest and the smallest ones farthest away,” she says. This may make your garden look longer.
“The Strawberry Thief” by Alison Catchlove. This is another small sculpture and is used to add interest to boring shrubs and hedges.
Is garden art in the sun or shade?
Think about how light affects the art and sculptures in your garden. Will it be reflected? Can you make the most of shady areas with art that has a forest feel?
What about the wind? By choosing and placing sculptures that blend in with your garden, you can make the most of every movement.
Two very different sculpture spots in Savile Gardens. Abby Martin’s Enoki Dot Mushrooms add interest to shady areas where nothing else will grow. Richard Heron’s trio of pyramids reflects that planting.
Nick Baker’s Wisp. A long pole sways in the wind. So, to take advantage of moving sculptures, consider where the wind blows in your garden.
Consider practicality
It is important to consider how your sculpture or art will be modified. Savile Garden is open to the public, so people are always passing by. Even in private yards, children may play and dogs may run through. You don’t want the sculpture to fall over.
Caroline Wheaton of the Surrey Sculpture Society advises discussing this with your artist. Many of the works are firmly anchored deep in the soil. If you place the sculpture on a pedestal, be careful that the pedestal and sculpture don’t fall over if someone bumps into it.
Native British woodland creatures by Katie Netley. Tall pieces of art like this should be securely secured with hidden pins to prevent them from tipping over.
You should also know how to care for your artwork. Garden art is made of resilient material but requires cleaning. Your artist should be able to advise you.
Elegance by Caroline Wheaton. Caroline says some pieces, like this one, need to be waxed about once every six months.
“Williams Pair” by sculptor Nikki Fairbank. Some garden art pieces are made from materials that naturally weather and rust and develop a patina. This was made by cutting recycled scaffolding poles, but it rusts beautifully.
How much does garden art and sculpture cost?
Purchasing a mass-produced ornament at a garden store is different than purchasing an individual piece of art created by someone else.
Generally, art created on a personal level is more expensive. Caroline Wheaton of the Surrey Sculpture Society considers most sculptors’ work to be priced at “affordable art fair” levels.
Affordable Art Fair is an exhibition focused on affordable art and sculpture held in 10 cities around the world, including London, New York, Melbourne and Hong Kong. The website does not list exact price ranges, but it is generally believed that art is sold for between around £100 and £5,000.
Watch the video of Savile Garden’s Art in the Garden Sculpture Trail
In this video, you can learn more about Savile Gardens, the Art in the Garden sculpture trail, and how some of the sculptures were created.
See more ideas about garden art and sculpture.
This post has more ideas and tips on how to place garden ornaments and sculptures.
Check out more garden sculpture tips and ideas in this post.
Pin to remember your garden art selections
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