Inspiration for a breathtaking sculpture garden

Do you dream of an impressive garden that reflects not only nature but also art in all its facets? Imagine how a carefully selected collection of sculptures would create a special effect throughout the year, giving your outdoor spaces a distinctive atmosphere.

Garden art and sculptures transform your garden landscape into a captivating experience that evokes interest and fascination in every season. A well-placed sculpture will be just as appealing in winter – perhaps surrounded by a soft blanket of snow. In summer, a sculpture garden be equally captivating when the sun glints off the surfaces of the garden figures, bringing vibrant colors and plays of light and shadow to life.

Artwork in green spaces can act as eye-catchers or accentuate a specific area of ​​the garden by creating contrasts or highlighting a recurring theme. Whether modern and abstract or classic and detailed: the wide selection of sculptures on the market allows you to express your individual style and add a personal touch.

A unique work of art in the outdoor area becomes a reflection of your personality and preferences, promotes harmony in the design of your garden, and invites you to pause and enjoy the beauty of the moment.

Savill Garden hosts an annual event called “Art in the Garden”

To offer you inspiration for your own sculpture garden, I would like to take you on a journey to Savill Garden , where the renowned "Art in the Garden" in collaboration with the Surrey Sculpture Society . This unique event allows visitors to discover impressive works and sculptures by various artists in the enchanting gardens.

Savill Garden, a botanical garden is located in the southeastern part of Windsor Great Park , west of London. It attracts visitors from all over the world with its rich plant life, English gardens, and artistic sculptures.

It's an excellent opportunity to gather creative ideas on how to tastefully and stylishly integrate garden sculptures Savill Garden covers a generous 35 acres in the picturesque Windsor Great Park. Besides a wide variety of plants, it also offers diverse garden landscapes – from a bog garden and an inviting dry garden to a shimmering lake and shady woodlands. The idyllic rose garden and magnificent flowering herbaceous borders also contribute to the garden's diversity.

Whether your garden has a wild, romantic feel or is more formally designed, Savill Garden impressively demonstrates that there are countless elements that can both bring joy and inspiration. Use this year's "Art in the Garden" exhibition, traditionally held from September to October, as a source of inspiration.

Garden expert Alexandra Campbell from The Middle-Size Garden visited the sculpture exhibition last year and takes us on a tour of the English sculpture garden in the video:

Be inspired by the creative solutions of numerous visual artists and landscape architects, and discover how you can transform your own green oasis into a complete work of art. Take the first step towards a garden that not only thrives but also touches hearts!

For further inspiration for your garden, helpful garden design tips, and landscaping ideas, subscribe to the YouTube channel "Middlesized Garden" : @TheMiddlesizedGarden . Whether you prefer the traditional English garden style, romantic cottage gardens, or modern urban gardening, the award-winning team at The Middlesized Garden a wealth of advice and creative suggestions for your garden projects.

How to make an informed choice for garden art and outdoor sculptures

During her tour of the sculpture exhibition, Alexandra asked four of the artists who exhibited at Savill Garden in 2024, as well as the landscape architect in charge, Heather King, for advice on how to skillfully select garden art or sculptures . The artists were Caroline Wheaton , Nicci Fairbank , Julie Simpson , and Marie Boyle .

Heather King assisted in selecting the sculptures for the exhibition and determining their placement. She began by reviewing Surrey Sculpture Society

If you're looking for art for your garden, it's advisable to view as many works as possible. Try experiencing art and sculptures in gardens by visiting a sculpture garden or a special exhibition

advises exhibition curator Heather King.

Surrey Sculpture Society is organizing another exhibition near Savill Gardens in Leonardslee Gardens . The International Sculpture Center in the United States maintains a list of sculpture gardens from around the world, should you wish to embark on an extensive tour of inspiration across the globe.

Consider the overall design and central character of your garden

Although there are no fixed guidelines as to which type of sculpture suits which garden style, some useful clues can still be found.

• What style is your garden?
• Is it modern, colorful, classic, in the style of an "English country house" or more like a cottage garden?

If you are still in the process of designing your garden, take a look at the following list of garden styles:

• Cottage garden style
• Traditional garden style
• Formal garden style
• English country garden
• Reflects the architecture of your house
• Outdoor space , also known as urban garden style
• Contemporary/modern garden style
• Mediterranean or "dry" garden style
• Coastal garden
• Exotic or "tropical jungle" garden
• Wild garden
• Rose Garden
• Japanese Garden / Zen Garden
• Naturalistic garden or prairie garden
• Ecological garden
• Upcycled or recycled garden
• A garden for plant lovers
• City or courtyard garden
• Rock, mountain or alpine garden
• Forest garden
• Garden with native plants
• Rustic garden
• Edible garden (potager/food forest)

You have the option of combining your garden art with the style of your garden, such as a traditional figure near a rose garden or Buddhist figures in a Zen garden .

Alternatively, you can create contrasts. Savill Garden offers some impressive traditional herbaceous borders combined with modern artworks.

For a more in-depth look at the listed garden styles and their combination with outdoor art, please refer to the advice articles in The Middle Sized Garden.

Talk to the artists

It is crucial to engage in dialogue with the artists when considering integrating a sculpture into your space. Sculptors emphasize that once you find a style that appeals to you, you shouldn't hesitate to contact the artist. This communication is key to ensuring placement of the sculpture

Pay particular attention to the specific characteristics of the location. Consider where and how the sculpture can best be displayed. Do you want to present a larger piece in an open space, such as a spacious lawn? This offers an opportunity to experiment with the arrangement and create a strong visual impact. A generously sized artwork can not only be a focal point but also significantly enhance the overall ambiance of a room or garden.

The choice of location goes beyond aesthetic considerations; it can also influence the perception and context of the artwork. A strategically placed sculpture has the potential to captivate the audience and create a sense of focus and differentiation within the space. Such consideration lends the entire environment a new dimension and allows the sculpture to appear in a completely different light.

Therefore, it is essential to share your ideas and wishes with the artist. Together you can ensure that the sculpture is not just a decorative element, but truly becomes an integral part of your individual aesthetic.

Garden art for sunny or shady areas

Consider how light affects your garden art or sculptures. Is it reflected? Can you optimize a shady area by incorporating art with a forest-like character? What about the wind?

Utilize every external or natural influence by selecting and arranging a sculpture that interacts with your garden.

Also consider practical aspects

It is also important to think about how your sculpture or artwork should be cared for and protected from the elements and damage.

Savill Garden is open to the public, so there are always people there. Even in a private garden, children might be playing or dogs might be running by. They want to prevent the sculpture from toppling over.

Caroline Wheaton of the Surrey Sculpture Society recommends clarifying this with the artist or supplier of a garden sculpture beforehand. Many works are securely and firmly anchored in the ground. If you are placing the sculpture on a pedestal, ensure that both the pedestal and the sculpture remain stable, even if someone bumps into them.

Furthermore, you should know how to care for your artwork. Garden art is made of robust materials but requires regular cleaning and maintenance . The artist should be able to give you helpful advice on this. You can also find further advice and tips in our magazine (section: Garden Design & Landscape Architecture).

How much do garden art and sculptures cost?

There is a clear difference between purchasing a mass-produced item in a garden center and an individually designed work of art from an artist.

Art created on a personal level is generally much more expensive. Caroline Wheaton of the Surrey Sculpture Society sets the prices for most of her sculptors' work as part of an "affordable art fair ." The Affordable Art Fair is an event held in ten cities worldwide, including Hamburg, London, New York, Melbourne, and Hong Kong, specializing in affordable art and sculptures (we have reported on it previously).

Although their website does not specify exact price ranges, it is generally assumed that most artworks for a sculpture garden sell for between 150 and 10,000 EUR.