Annie Shephard
Hello there, I’m Annie.
Encourager; organiser; getting-things-done-er; Sunday lunch roaster; fashion-lover and welly-wearing veg grower.
I love to design characterful, beautiful, ever-changing gardens that really say something about the people that live in them.
2022-2023 LONDON COLLEGE OF GARDEN DESIGN, DIPLOMA WITH DISTINCTION
I have just graduated from the London College of Garden Design and was overjoyed to be awarded the 2023 Judges’ Prize by the legendary Jo Thompson. What an incredible honour.
My style is decidedly English – layered, complex, colourful, relaxed and patinated. Every design is different and I love to help my clients find their style and delve into what makes them unique in order to create something utterly bespoke and individual.
You can see some of my designs below and can see my own garden on instagram @annieshepharddesign
Biography:
2019 – 2022 THE HOUSE EDITOR
Before London College I ran a Design Consultancy focused on gardens and interiors. I co-ordinated multiple client projects as well as building strong relationships with my clients, many of whom became long-standing clients over several properties. I work decisively in three-dimensional space with a strong vision, layering complexity, colour and style into everything I produce.
I will work with you to discover your style, work out what you really want from your garden, and guide you step-by-step through the process.
You can see some of my early work on https://www.thehouseeditor.com
2005 – 2017 – RENOVATION AND LANDSCAPING PROJECTS
For the last eighteen years I’ve been raising our boys, knocking down and remodelling houses, and running big renovation projects. I trained at KLC so have learned both the theory of design and have also learned the hard way, by creating from the ground up, wellies on and hard hat in hand.
This means I understand how it feels to be you, the client. I know how difficult some of these big design and construction decisions can be. When you’re investing in a big project it’s essential that you achieve the results you intend. I can guide you through the process and make it clear, navigable and (most importantly) enjoyable for you.
1996-2005 – HOUSE & GARDEN, ELLE, RED, GLAMOUR, ELLE DECORATION MAGAZINES
My career before kids was in Fashion and Interiors Magazines. I worked my way up to Advertisement Manager before leaving to have a family. The magazine world – particularly working at Vogue House – gave me and incredible education in British Style. We hosted glamorous parties, fabulous conferences, the Elle Fashion Awards – it was the 1990s – I’m pretty sure we did a lot of work too.
So you can trust that everything I design is built upon the foundations of this long heritage in British luxury fashion, interiors, garden design and the business of style. You are in safe hands.
I’d love to help you create a characterful, stylish, meaningful garden that tells your story.
Jo Thompson so generously described my garden with these kind words:
” The presentation jumped out at me from the moment I saw it…an excellent and innovative approach to the brief, and the creation of a magical atmosphere…I thought it was a masterclass in an appealing and seductive presentation…Well done Annie”.
This is a large family garden designed specifically for children with neurodiversities. Although the garden can be enjoyed by everyone, the areas directly visible from the house are designed with children on the Autism spectrum in mind. The less visible areas are designed with children with ADHD in mind. These blend together in a cohesive family garden with repeating motifs of wiggly dry-stone wall, calming barefoot rill, and wavy structural hedges.
An engaging and magical world for children where nature provides the fun.
This family garden is designed with spaces that work at different times of the day and times of the year.
A Woodland Terrace for reading in the shade; a Gravel Garden for summer BBQs with friends; a Spring Garden for mid-morning coffee; and a Productive Garden for harvest in Autumn.
Structural hedges balance the asymmetry of the space and create movement so that the entire garden can be walked as a meditative amble with different plants to enjoy as the year progresses.
An inviting and social family space.
This garden was inspired by the Case Study Houses of 1950s California, particularly the iconic work of Richard Neutra.
I was playing with the concept of lightness and density, elongating the forms to the point of teetering, and framing views and vistas. Then layering up all the elements over each other in a complex multi-planar scheme.
I deliberately retained the original CAD model images in this work to give a more edgy and crisp effect compared to my usual hand-drawn work.
I took inspiration for this space from a story of the Gardening Ladies of Kew, who worked here from 1897 through the turn of the century. They dressed as the male workers and undertook the same tasks. I wanted this Walled Garden to feel secluded, productive, a sanctuary. All the planting suggestions are productive and edible. The mood is a magical secret-garden away from the bustle of modern life. A timeless moment to celebrate and create memories with friends and family.
All photographs were taken by the talented Britt Willoughby Dyer @brittwilldyer
Copyright owned by Annie Shephard @AnnieShephardDesign
Please do not reproduce or copy these images for personal or professional use
