Planting Artfully

Hicks & Hart at Gladwell & Patterson’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show Stand
Juni 6, 2025

At the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Gladwell & Patterson collaborated with garden designers Hicks & Hart to deliver a planting scheme conceived not as ornament, but as an integral architectural component of the stand. The project explored the relationship between fine art, interior design and horticulture, demonstrating how planting can frame and support artworks within both traditional and contemporary settings.

Working closely with the gallery and interior designer Lucinda Sanford, Hicks & Hart developed a scheme that introduced structure, texture and definition to the space, while maintaining visual clarity for the artworks on display. The planting was designed to enhance rather than compete, establishing a measured balance between art, furniture and botanical elements.

Founded by Catherine Hicks and Kate Hart, Hicks & Hart are recognised for a naturalistic yet highly controlled approach to garden design. Drawing on backgrounds in interior design and fashion, their work reflects a strong understanding of proportion, colour and composition. Their projects are characterised by planting that evolves through the seasons and responds closely to architectural context.

  • The Planting Scheme

    The planting design played a central role in defining the spatial experience of the stand. A key feature was the introduction of recessed planting beds positioned beneath the dado rail, effectively transforming the perimeter of the room into a continuous planted structure. Kate Hart explains:

    “The recessed beds allowed the planting to function as part of the architecture. Rather than acting as decoration, it became integral to how the space was read—closer to an installation than a conventional display.”

    In the Drawing Room, Hicks & Hart worked with a deliberately limited palette of ten plant species across eight beds. This approach allowed repetition and variation to be used strategically, creating cohesion without uniformity. A green and white-led scheme ensured visual clarity and continuity throughout the space.

    Key planting included Philadelphus ‘Snowbelle’ for structure and seasonal interest, Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’ for its compact form, and Euphorbia corallioides to introduce tonal contrast. Texture and foliage were prioritised over overt colour, reinforcing the architectural quality of the planting.

    Accents were introduced sparingly through informal arrangements placed in antique vessels, including a vintage punch bowl and wooden wine cooler. These featured Achillea ‘Moonshine’, Astrantia ‘Moulin Rouge’ and complementary selections from the main scheme, offering contrast while remaining consistent with the overall composition.

    Ornamental grasses were used to add movement and variation across the scheme, reinforcing the sense of depth and spatial continuity. The result was a planting design that supported the stand’s interior narrative and responded directly to the artworks it framed.

    The scheme was awarded five gold stars by the RHS Chelsea judges. One commented:
    “The planting is elegant and well resolved. It complements the stand as a whole and enhances the presentation without asserting dominance.”

  • The Modern Conservatory

    In contrast to the Drawing Room, the adjoining modern conservatory adopted a highly selective approach to planting. Just three specimens were used, each chosen for sculptural presence and clarity of form: Styrax japonica ‘Fragrant Fountain’, Edgeworthia chrysantha ‘Grandiflora’ and Cotinus coggygria ‘Lilla’.

    This pared-back arrangement reflected the architectural language of the space and underscored the adaptability of fine art within contemporary interiors. The contrast between the two rooms reinforced Gladwell & Patterson’s broader aim: to demonstrate how artworks can be placed with equal confidence in both layered traditional environments and more minimal settings.

    This philosophy mirrors the approach taken at the gallery’s Stamford space, opened in September 2024, where artworks are presented within a domestic framework to help clients envisage how pieces may function within their own homes.

  • Acknowledgements

    As the stand was dismantled and the artworks prepared for their onward journeys, the gallery reflected with appreciation on the many conversations and encounters shared over the course of the week. From early-morning business breakfasts to evening gatherings, Chelsea once again provided a setting for meaningful exchange.

    Particular thanks are extended to Chris Young—garden designer, author and contributor to RHS Garden magazine—who generously led guided tours for Gladwell & Patterson visitors. Despite a substantial publishing career, including The RHS Encyclopaedia of Garden Design and Take Chelsea Home, Chris took time to share his insight into this year’s gardens. Highlights from these tours will be shared across the gallery’s platforms.

    Gladwell & Patterson would also like to acknowledge the contribution of their collaborators: Fromental for the bespoke wallcovering; David Seyfried for custom furniture including the Sanford sofa and Albion swivel chairs; Ralph Lauren Home for upholstery; Chesneys for the fireplace; Samuel & Sons for trimmings; Hicks & Hart for planting; Acres Farm for the fireplace fender; and Vaughan Designs for lighting.

    The gallery looks forward to returning next year and, in the meantime, wishes clients and friends every enjoyment of their homes, gardens, paintings and sculpture.

    For those seeking additional detail, the full planting list and supplier directory are included below. Enquiries regarding garden design projects may be directed to Hicks & Hart at gardens@hicksandhart.com, or to Gladwell & Patterson at admin@gladwellpatterson.com.