Catriona Rowbotham Garden Design is based in south east London and primarily works with clients based in London and the surrounding counties. 

After 20+ years of working in architecture, I decided to train in garden design. The short story of why is that I was often designing glassy extensions, and making a mess of clients’ gardens in the process. Those clients had started to ask 'Could you just design my garden?' Although I had designed my own garden and loved gardening, I knew I wanted to be much more qualified before taking on that kind of work.

Within two years, I had both been invited back to teach on the course I had just completed, and had won an open global competition to design a public courtyard, so I dropped architecture from my trading name and now I get to design with plants as well as space!

A common thread in all of my design work is that I chose to work where sustainability and design excellence were highly valued. That stayed true from my first architectural position in 1991 for Gaia Scotland, through time working for Dominique Perrault in Paris, to working for several renowned architectural practices in London. I see my garden design practice as bringing together that experience and those values.

When I retrained in garden design, I couldn't help but be curious and opinionated about my classmates designs. Maybe that explains why I was invited back to teach the following year, and my position now as Course Director for the design course at The English Gardening School. I remain curious about everything planting and design, which means I'm always interested in a good brief and I'll never present a cookie cutter design. All those years in construction may have made me pragmatic but I've never lost the wonder of having an idea, drawing it, then seeing it built by trusted and respected landscapers. Collaboration is key.

I strongly believe that being surrounded by beauty and having an opportunity to regularly connect with nature is essential for our human wellbeing. The security of a garden provides the perfect opportunity to provide both and to make our one patch of earth at a time better than when we found it. If you'd like to work with me to make an immediate positive impact on both your own wellbeing, and the world around you, then please do get it touch.