The Secret Gardeners (2023)

Pictured alongside ‘Fionnula’s Flight’ By Claire Mooney

A collaborative commission displayed at Highgrove House and Gardens, Sky Arts, Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters.

The Secret Gardeners celebrates the skilled craftspeople working behind the scenes at Highgrove Gardens. Using the motif of a contemporised Greenman, Highgrove’s calm and natural beauty is contrasted with amusing depictions of PPE, Powertools and Hazard Tape. Its geometric structure is inspired by the humble leaded light. This familiarity references ordinary people who have extra-ordinary skills. With gentle irony to highlight craftsmanship above all else. The glass is coloured using frit (powdered glass) that is fused onto the surface of the glass, leaving the perfect hedge texture. It has then been treated with glass paint and silver-stain to bring the illustrations to life.

Craftspeople:

Josephine Grant, Karen Au, Rhodri Jones, Claire Mooney, Henry Ball, Manasi Depala, Tristan Leicester, Jingshi Wang, Kerry Collison

Mouthblown Cylinder Glass by Elliot Walker and Laura Atkinson. Made at Blowfish Glass

Bench Crafted by Tom Eddolls

Images Courtesy of Sky Arts