Art in our gardens this year

Lead image: 100 Knollys Road, Streatham © Max A Rush

Gardening is a creative pursuit so it’s little surprise that many National Garden Scheme gardens are owned by painters, sculptures, designers and ceramicists. Some display and sell their work, some allow access to their studio’s, other garden owners host art exhibitions or have displays of sculpture adding interest to their planting – each gives a unique flavour to the garden visiting experience. Here are a few to explore in 2026. 

19 Belgrave Road, East London owned by ceramicist Gill Usher – opens as part of the Aldersbrook & Lakehouse Group on 5 July. Wander a garden full of sculptural ceramics and recycled, found objects. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Annalal’s Gallery, Dorset is a garden owned by two Royal Academy artists. The working studio is camouflaged with clematis and honeysuckle. Hidden amongst the plants are sculptures and the old walls are hung with paintings. Entrance is through the cottage studio/conservatory where everything is handmade and sculptured by the owners. Some works are for sale.  Opens 3 and 24 May, 21 June, 27 July, 23 August, 13 September and 6 December. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Charleston, Sussex is designed as a living painting and enriched with sculpture, the walled garden at Charleston was created by art critic Roger Fry in 1918. With its rectangular lawn, gravel paths and flowerbeds, it has served as canvas, studio, prop store, stage and sanctuary for Bloomsbury artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.  Quintessentially a painter’s garden, each year it bursts with the colourful flowers its former custodians loved to paint, combining Mediterranean influences with cottage garden planting. 
Opening for the National Garden Scheme for pre-booked only tours at 10am and 11am on Friday, June 12th. Join Head Gardener Harry Hoblyn, for a tour and talk about the history of the garden and how Harry maintains and develops the garden today. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Chippins, Essex is an artist’s garden and plantaholics’ paradise offering surprises around every corner. In the shared etching workshop /greenhouse owner, Kit has a small exhibition space with large etching press and welcomes visitors to have a look around. Opens 21 June and By Arrangement. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

St Peters Wharf, London is a private communal riverside garden for a group of seven artists who live and work on site. It has been designed as a low maintenance garden, on two levels, with a wide range of plants in a restricted palette and allowing direct and extensive views to the river from the studios/houses. It opens on 29 and 31 May as part of Chiswick Mall Gardens group. Click here for details:  Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

8 Claremont Road, Marlow, Bucks has paintings, prints, and pots to see and buy in this small-town garden, owned by an artist gardener. The unusual house was built in 2015. Gravel paths divide rectangular beds filled with herbaceous perennials, grasses, and ferns. A cow trough water feature and the owner’s ceramics add surprise. A gate leads to a deliberate wild area with fruit bushes and an art studio in which the owner works on oil paintings related to the garden. Opens 9, 10, 16 and 17 May. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

38 The Clump, Hertfordshire is a plantsman’s garden with a range of unusual trees and shrubs with five distinct areas including modern sculptures to enjoy. Opens By Arrangement May to September. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

4 Clyngwyn Road, Glamorgan is a garden is situated below the former coal tip of the Tir Bach mine which is known locally as ‘The Patches’. It has grown out of the need to develop a space to have privacy and peace after working shifts as nurses.
The owner is also an artist achieving a Masters in Fine Art in 2021 and the garden is as much a part of their artistic vision as their visual output and there is now a small garden studio. Opens 16 August. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

100 Colne Road, Twickenham is an enchanting first floor roof garden above 1850s workers cottage with converted 1950s studios, and owner’s artist workshops to the rear. Full of artist expression and clever design, there is access via wide spiral staircase to sheltered garden 9 x 8 metres, intensively planted and fully containerised. Trees, shrubs, climbers, subtle annual perennial plant combinations and new 7 x 10 metre rear extensive roof area with biodiverse mix of sedums and wild flowers. Opens 26 July and By Arrangement. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Braeburn House, Northampton is a small, six-year-old garden with a very modern art studio where there is a permanent exhibition with arts and crafts for sale in aid of various charities. Opens as part of the East Haddon Gardens on 25 May. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Driftwood, East Sussex is a perfect coastal paradise made up of different gardens, each with individuality and creativity. It opens for By Arrangement visits from June to 2 August for groups of up to 25 and offers the chance to browse and buy work from local artists which is displayed for sale in the summerhouse, greenhouse and throughout the garden. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme

Fairdene Gallery Garden, Montgomery, Powys is a private garden and gallery evolved over 20 years designed and planted by its artist owner, Frieda Hughes and reflects her idiosyncratic style, love of co-ordinated colour, enthusiasm for rock placement, and joy in designing extraordinary metalwork. A limited number of tickets have been made available for these two, special one-day events kindly hosted by Frieda. Introductory talk by Frieda on her garden and art followed by tour of garden and gallery. Opens 10 June and 15 July. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Farrs, Dorset is home to award-winning British furniture designer John Makepeace and wife Jennie. Enjoy several distinctive walled gardens, rolling lawns, sculpture and giant topiary around one of Beaminster’s historic town houses. John’s inspirational grass garden and Jennie’s very contrasting garden with an oak fruit cage and a riot of colour. There’s a glasshouse, straw bale studio and orchard, remarkable trees, planked and seasoning in open sided barn for future furniture commissions. Opens 18 June and 20 August. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

The Coach House, 3 The Hermitage in South East London is home to sculptor Pat Rae. This C18 Coach House is a great backdrop for a little courtyard garden, and displays several of the owner’s sculptures. It was first created in the early 1970s by mainly building brick containers. Soil had to be brought in and has been encouraged with compost. Opens as part of the Forest Hill Garden Group on 17 May. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

The Garden Studio, Essex is a beautiful south facing garden evolved over the years from family garden to studio garden by owner, garden designer Andrea Parsons. A stunning art studio exhibiting both Andrea’s artwork and her award-winning garden designs is hidden amongst the rich planting and lovely seating areas. With five Chelsea Flower Show medals to her name Andrea will be available to discuss design ideas and answer questions about visitors own gardens. Opens 6 and 7 June. Click here for details:  Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Glasfryn Hall, Flintshire is home to Oriel Glasfryn Gallery, featuring work by leading Welsh artists and for the the first time this year’s open gardens will co-incide with its summer exhibition meaning that both the house and main gallery will be open, displaying the work of more than 40 leading Welsh artists, including painters, ceramicists, jewellers and sculptors. Opens 29, 30 and 31 August. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

13 Gravenhurst Road, Bedfordshire is an enchanting, artist’s garden designed predominantly in the classic cottage garden style, with a mix of traditional and contemporary planting. The main garden features an array of outbuildings including artist’s studio, an open-sided garden room with log burner, and glasshouses. Contemporary borders welcome you on either side with plume poppy, cephalaria gigantea, echinacea, swathes of grasses with pops of dianthus carthusianorum, and heads of blue echinops. Opens 26 July. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Greatcombe, Devon is hidden gem, providing both inspiration and tranquillity. The garden offers a wide range of plants and planting schemes adding interest around every corner. Featuring flowering shrubs, mature trees, herbaceous borders, colourful pots, a moorland stream, acers and unusual hydrangeas. Artist’s Studio with paintings and cards for sale. ‘Made by Robbie’ metalwork artefacts and garden supports also for sale. Open on multiple dates in May and July. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

West Garth Cottage, Cumbria, Is an artist’s garden. A canvas of colours and textures. ¾ acre of hidden walled gardens to capture and delight the senses. Parterres, rill stream, sculptures, sundial garden, leading to a relaxing natural garden with beautiful plantings for every season. Many flowering shrubs, fragrant old roses and perennials. Artist’s studio, Artisan-made metal plant supports and decorative metalwork for sale. Opens as part of Hayton Village Gardens on 7 June. Click here for details:  Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Brambly Wood, Devon on the edge of Dartmoor is an evolving garden, developing larger perennial borders whilst reserving areas to grow naturally to encourage wildlife and a healthier ecosystem. You can visit the studios to see the owners pottery and textile work. There are tranquil seating areas throughout the garden with Dartmoor views. Opens with Haytor House on 9 and 10 May. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Hill Farm, Cheshire extends to approx ½ acre and is made up of a series of gardens inc a formal courtyard with a pond and vegetable garden with south facing wall. An orchard and wildflower meadow were established about 6 years ago. A principal feature is a woodland garden which supports a rich variety of woodland plants. In 2023 the owners opened a small art gallery featuring work by local Cheshire artists. This is open throughout the year Friday to Sunday 11.00 to 4.00. Oepns 26 April, 17 May and 14 June and By Arrangement. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

100 Knollys Road in Streatham a unique hillside garden, in development since 2021 will host a display of work by International Garden Photographer of the Year 2025, Max A. Rush, and will be available to chat at the top of the garden when it opens on dates in May and June.  Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme

Topgallent, Hythe, Kent is a hillside garden terraced and developed to cope with the prevailing winds and the slope. Topgallant is a secluded Sculptors’ garden, with mature trees and shrubs, a wildlife pond. Decking and grass paths wind down through the garden giving glimpses of the sea. Relaxed planting for year-round interest and to encourage wildlife. Ceramics studio open. Opens as part of Hythe Gardens Group on 30 and 31 May. Click here for details:  Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

36 Jellicoe Close, Eastbourne is an artist’s and plantswoman’s garden, with colourful mixed borders of perennials, exotics, and overflowing pots. The meandering paths, well-planted borders, and seating areas demonstrate what can be achieved in a smaller garden. It was described by The Sunday Times as a ‘sub-tropical paradise.’ The owner’s pottery studio is open for viewing and sales, and there is an excellent variety of plants for sale. Opens with 16 Hardy Drive on 28 June. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Kestle Barton, Helston, Cornwall is a delightful garden near Frenchman’s Creek, on the Lizard, which is the setting for Kestle Barton Gallery; wildflower meadow, Cornish orchard with named varieties and a formal garden with prairie planting in blocks by James Alexander Sinclair. It is a riot of colour in summer and continues to delight well into late summer. Opens on dates in June, July, August and September. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

The Limes, Leeds Set against a beautiful house in open countryside surrounded by stunning views, The Limes gardens offer French-inspired ‘rooms’ with distinct colours and character. Highlights include prairie planting, gravel garden, wildflower meadow, woodland, orchard, croquet lawn, and pétanque pitch. Drought-tolerant planting, mature trees and Pete Carling’s sculptures enrich the setting. Art gallery and café for refreshments. Opens 6 June. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Mansion Cottage, Bridlington, Yorkshire is a truly hidden, private and secret garden with exuberant, packed, vibrant borders. Visitors’ book says ‘a veritable oasis’, ‘the garden is inspirational’, with a surprise around every corner. Produce stalls and soaps are always a great attraction too, all hand made here at Mansion Cottage. Opens 8 and 9 August and By Arrangement. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Nellies Cottage, Looe, Cornwall is a 2-acre sheltered south facing garden located in a 4-acre site including woodland and mill pond ½m from the sea. We started to create the terraced sloping garden on a bramble covered site around 2010 and it was a steep learning curve – it is a garden where lessons can be learnt! Owners’ studio open (glass and painting). Open 6 and 7 June and 11 and 12 July. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Newton Cottage, Dorset has sunny gravel gardens, a large informal lawn and woodland trees complementing the views of fields and pastures. Familiar plants are used in a naturalistic style with carefully edited self-seeding invaders. It’s visited by a wide variety of wildlife, not all beneficial! This is the inspiration for owner Pamela’s artwork which will be on display in the studio along with a selection of Gethyn’s paintings. Opens with Cherry Cottage on 21 June and By Arrangement. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Maple Barn, Warwickshire – Visitors enter along a decorative gravel drive framed by specimen trees and shrubs, before discovering a terraced garden with raised beds, a lawn bordered by rectangular herbaceous planting, and a well-stocked contemporary pond. A greenhouse and layered terraces create a sense of variety and calm. A spacious artist’s studio hosts a small exhibition of floral, landscape and abstract artworks. Opens as part of Pebworth Gardens on 24 and 25 May. Click here for details:  Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

5 Pemberton Road, East Molesey, Surrey is an artist’s sheltered and secluded gravel garden, designed alongside the house build in 2015. It features many grasses and pink, blue, and white plantings, with occasional pops of bright colour. A galvanised drinking trough with bulrushes and water lilies, together with a large mature central acer tree, combines with several seating areas to extend the living space into this fabulous outdoor room. The no5workshops studio will also be open on the day, with 10% of proceeds going to the National Garden Scheme. The owner’s work is inspired by the garden, with many plants and leaf shapes grown for my botanical printmaking. Opens 7-9pm 25 June. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Rose Cottage, Nottingham – as featured in Garden News magazine, and described as “A heavily planted heaven”, with colourful, wildlife-friendly plants. This is a small cottage garden with features such as a sedum roof, decked seating area, summerhouse and a new chicken run. A stream meanders down between ponds and bog areas. Art studio open. Opens with Home Farm House on 7 June. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Rose Farm, Cheltenham is a compact garden surrounding a listed former farmhouse and historic outbuildings. Herbaceous and mixed borders, wildflower meadows, wildlife pond, potager and vegetable garden. Historic cider mill. Contemporary garden sculptures. Artist’s studio with exhibition and sale of contemporary art and sculptures. Opens 5 June and 11 July. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth – enjoy a private garden tour of this sub-tropical garden sited on the cliff top, overlooking the sea, full of a wide variety of plants from around the globe. East Cliff Hall was the home of Sir Merton and Lady Annie Russell-Cotes. The garden was restored allowing for modern access with areas retaining the original 1901 design conceived by the founders, such as the ivy clad grotto and Japanese influence. Opens By Arrangement April – October. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

5 St Regis Close, Muswell Hill, London. Cornucopia of sensual delights. Artist’s garden famous for architectural features and delicious cakes. Baroque temple, pagodas, Raku tiled mirrored wall conceals plant nursery. American Gothic shed overlooks Liberace terrace and stairway to heaven. Maureen Lipman’s favourite garden; combines colour, humour, trompe l’oeil with wildlife friendly ponds, waterfalls, weeping willow, lawns and abundant planting. Mega plant sale and open studio with ceramics and cards. A unique experience awaits! Opens 14 June and 2 August and By Arrangement. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Shieldfield Art Works, Newcastle upon Tyne – An urban community garden promoting sustainable food production, fair land usage and flourishing community. Enjoy exploring the vegetable garden, mown labyrinth, bustling wildflower and fruit tree banks, children’s sensory play space, pergola, rotating art poster gallery and the famous chair made from a bath. Opens 6 June. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

48 Asthill Grove, Coventry opens as part of the Styvechale Gardens group on 7 June. A nature-led garden with artist’s studio open with paintings by owner Kate Purcell. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

50 Summerfield Avenue, Whitstable is an artists garden with a studio, boardwalk, gravel and drought tolerant plants. With a special interest in irises and Mediterranean planting. Opens 24 May as part of Tankerton Gardens. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Tattykeel House Garden, County Tyrone – ‘borders brimming with blossom and lush planting are seamlessly offset by sweeps of well-tended lawn in the carefully choreographed garden at Tattykeel House’ as described by Conrad McCormick (Irish Garden Magazine Aug 2024 ). The garden features in ‘The Open Gardens of Ireland’ by Shirley Lanigan. The 1½ acres including sheltered seating areas, a Japanese inspired area, and many climbers. Owner Mrs Ward is both a Fine Art and Textile artist, and visitors are welcome to visit her studio. Opens By Arrangement May – August. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

85 Thornyhill Road, County Down is an eco-friendly cottage garden of roughly an acre, in picturesque drumlin country. The garden has diverse mature trees, a labyrinth, a walk to a flax pond once used in the linen industry, wildflower meadows and a gravel garden. It features land art made from locally sourced materials and there is a gallery/exhibition space promoting the celebration and conservation of nature. Opens By Arrangement during May. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Tresithney, St Ives, Cornwall is a unique ‘Walking Garden’ on the ancient St Michael’s Way. The garden is approx 1½ acres with a variety of distinct areas, including a rose garden, potager, fernery, orchard and wild areas. With beautiful views up to Trencrom Hill, an Iron Age Hill Fort. Artist studio will also be open. Opens By Arrangement May to July. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Trevilley, Penzance, Cornwall. Over twenty-five years, novelist Patrick Gale and sculptor/farmer Aidan Hicks, have carved the garden at Aidan’s family farm out of a expanse of concrete farmyard in front of the late Georgian farmhouse and an old field track and mowhay to its seaward side. Eccentric, romantic and constantly evolving, as befits the intense creativity of its owners, it is multiply subdivided in an effort to minimise the challenge of gardening in one of the windiest sites in the country. From June 6-14 visitors will have the added attraction of Aidan holding an open studio exhibition in the barn alongside the garden, along with artist, Sara Bevan. You can see their work at www.aidanhicks.com and www.sarabevanartist.co.uk. Opens June 7 and By Arrangement in June. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

Turn End, Buckinghamshire – The garden was created as an integral part of a 1960s house, one of a group of three houses designed by architect Peter Aldington, now listed at grade II*; only 12 post war houses are so designated. In November 2017 Turn End’s garden was also registered at Grade II. ‘The witty way in which Turn End is conceived as a series of walled enclosures, some open to the sky, others roofed… There is nothing else like Aldington’s houses and garden at Haddenham in post-war British architecture’. Dan Cruickshank, RIBA Journal, Oct.1996. Turn End estate includes the studio of award-winning photographer Paul Wilkinson. Opens 11 March, 6 May, 3 June and By Arrangement 11 March – 3 June. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme 

3 Upper Mill, Swansea is a plantaholics’ cottage garden at the woodland edge. Birds and bees, dragonflies and hedgehogs all enjoy this oriental inspired hideaway. Stained glass artists’ studio open for interest. Opens as part of Upper Mill Gardens 10 May. Click here for details: Find a Garden | National Garden Scheme