Art in the Garden

This summer there’s a great selection of garden art and sculpture events taking place in some of the country’s finest garden locations. Here’s a selection of events to look out for.

Veilhan at Hatfield: Promenade
7 April to 30 September
Following on from the success of Moore at Hatfield in 2011, Hatfield House are pleased to be staging the first major UK outdoor exhibition of the sculptural works of French artist Xavier Veilhan. Recent key works and especially created site specific pieces will be set throughout the West Garden against the backdrop of the house.

Hatfield House,
Hatfield
Hertfordshire AL9 5NQ
www.hatfield-house.co.uk
Tel: 01707 287010

Sculpture at the Grove – Expressions of Movement
1 May to 30 September
The 300-acre estate to The Grove hotel is host to a selection of artworks from establish artists. This year the pieces are inspired by two notable events for 2012: The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics. Visitors may enjoy the sculpture as part of a weekend or mid-week break at The Grove, a pre-dinner walk in the grounds or whilst enjoying a delicious afternoon tea. All works in the exhibition are for sale. (Pictured: Rick Kirby's Fallen Angel)

The Grove
Chandler’s Cross
Hertfordshire WD3 4TG
www.thegrove.co.uk
Tel: 01923 807807

Showborough House Affordable Garden Art Exhibition
3 May to 17 June
The Affordable Garden Art Competition and Exhibition at Showborough House offers a wide variety of good but affordable sculpture, mostly by local or emerging artists. There are works in different sizes, styles and media, including wood, metal, stone, glass, ceramic and resin – all available for sale.

Showborough House
Twyning
Gloucestershire GL20 6DN
www.showborough.com
Tel: 01684 296605

Avebury Manor – Celebrating Art in the Garden
5 May to 10 June
The garden at Avebury Manor provides a wonderful setting for a major selling exhibition of contemporary art by over 20 leading artists and craftsmen from across Wiltshire and beyond. Work on display includes metal, ceramic, glass, bronze, and willow sculpture, as well as hand-crafted pots and pieces of outdoor furniture.

Avebury Manor,
Avebury
Near Marlborough
Wiltshire SN8 1RF
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Tel: 01672 539250

Barn Galleries ARTSPACE
11–27 May
A heady and inspirational collection in a unique and tranquil setting at Barn Galleries, this biennial art exhibition includes over 30 professional sculptors from across the UK showing work in the gallery's ancient barns and extensive gardens. Plus, there's access to an extensive database of sculptors and their work should you be looking for something specific.

Barn Galleries
Aston,
Henley on Thames
Oxon RG9 3DX
www.barngalleries.com
Tel: 01491 577786

Tatton Park Biennial – Flights of Fancy
12 May to 30 September
The passion for aviation held by Maurice Egerton (last Baron of Tatton) and the role of Tatton Park as a training drop zone for troops during the Second World War have inspired artists taking part in its third biennial of contemporary art, Flights of Fancy. Large-scale installations and artworks have been created in the grounds, gardens and mansions that all consider man’s urge to fly. (Pictured: Olivier Grossetête's Unattainable Bridge)

Tatton Park
Knutsford
Cheshire WA16 6QN
www.tattonparkbiennial.org
Tel: 01625 374400

Moncrieff-Bray Gallery – Sculpture for Gardens
19 May to 24th June
The fifth annual sculpture exhibition at the Moncrieff-Bray Gallery coincides with the Chelsea Flower Show and features work by 20 artists. It takes place in the three-acre gardens of Woodruffs Farm in West Sussex. A wide range of work is on view in stone, bronze, glass, ceramic, steel and wood. All are available for sale with prices ranging from a few pounds to several thousand pounds.

Woodruffs Farm,
Woodruffs Lane
Egdean
Petworth
West Sussex RH20 1JX
www.moncrieff-bray.com
Tel: 07867 978414

Farrs – Endless Curve 
20 May, 3 June, 15 July and 2 September
A major new sculpture, Endless Curve by the Chinese artist, Wenqin Chen has been installed in the walled garden at Farrs to join the selection of contemporary art in the garden by artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Terry Frost, Patrick Hughes, John Keane, Gabrielle Koch, Christie Brown and Tony Hayward. All can be viewed in the gardens of owner and furniture designer John Makepeace on Sundays 20th May (NGS), 3rd June, 15th July (NGS) and 2nd September (NGS) from 11am – 5pm. There will also be displays of John’s work, art in the house, and coffee and tea on the lawn. Specialist nurseries will also be in attendance on NGS Sundays. Admission to the house and garden is £5.00. (Pictured: Endless Curve by Wenqin Chen)

Farrs
Whitcombe Road
Beaminster
Dorset DT8 3NB
www.johnmakepeacefurniture.com
Tel: 01308 862204

Waddesdon Manor – House of Cards
26 May to 28 October
To mark the recent acquisition by Waddesdon of Chardin’s Boy Building a House of Cards, Christie's Private Sales presents a major outdoor exhibition of contemporary sculpture, including works by leading artists. Pieces will be shown alongside Waddesdon’s own extensive collection of sculpture which includes works by Richard Long, Sarah Lucas, Michael Craig-Martin, Angus Fairhurst and Stephen Cox, amongst others.

Waddesdon Manor
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH
www.waddesdon.org.uk

University of Leicester annual sculpture exhibition – Interesting times
1 July to 28 October
A sinister garden shed, a larger than life-sized ‘Floating Man’, and granite bulbs that emerge out of the ground like upended mines will all feature in the University of Leicester’s outdoor sculpture exhibition this year. The provocative show brings together works by 16 celebrated sculptors and is located in the University’s 16-acre botancial garden.

University of Leicester Botanic Garden,

Stoughton Drive South,

Oadby,
Leics 
LE2 2NE
www2.le.ac.uk
Tel: 0116 271 2933

Godinton House - Sculpture in the gardens
21 July - 12 August
Talented new artists exhibit their sculptural work in the fabulous surroundings of Godinton House Gardens. The work will be displayed throughout the 13 acres of formal and wild gardens where crisp topiary or shimmering wild grasses make the perfect backdrop. Open 2-5.30pm. Entrance £5. House and tea room open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Godinton House
Godinton Lane
Ashford
Kent TN23 3BP
www.godinton-house-gardens.co.uk
Tel: 01233 643854