Mon - Sun: 09:00 - 18:00

Long border of rudbeckia, echinacea and grasses beside a lawn, planted by Garden Artist Wirral

Meet the Garden Artist

Horticulturalist & Garden Designer in Wirral

A lifetime of working with plants, brought to life through hand-drawn garden design and authentic planting plans.

Five Star Reviews on Google

Meet the Garden Artist

A lifetime of working with plants

I'm Helen, a qualified horticulturalist with 27 years of hands-on experience. I love plants, I love designing gardens, and I'm happiest with my boots in the soil.

I specialise in authentic planting plans and bespoke garden design for clients across Wirral, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. Every design is drawn by hand and every garden is different, so I bring years of practical knowledge, creativity and a down-to-earth approach to every project.

My interest in horticulture began at a young age, working on local market stalls selling flowers. It was there that I discovered the different varieties, what made them special and how much joy flowers bring to people.

I later began my professional career at one of the largest plant nurseries in the UK at the time. That experience gave me a deep practical understanding of plants: how they grow, what they need, how they work together and how to choose the right plant for the right place.

I went on to study garden sciences and landscape architecture, gaining an HND in Landscape Science and studying Landscape Architecture at Manchester Metropolitan University. Together, they gave me the practical knowledge and design skills that form the foundation of Garden Artist today.

I also work as head gardener of a three-acre garden, maintaining established planting schemes, including borders I have designed and historic planting. Caring for a garden year after year shows me exactly how planting develops over time, and that knowledge goes into every planting plan and garden design across Wirral.

Pink echinacea and white gaura in a border planted by Helen of Garden Artist Wirral
Helen's hand-drawn perspective sketch of a garden with pergola and trees

Qualifications & experience

27 years of horticulture, study and practice

  1. Where it began

    Selling flowers on local market stalls

    My interest in horticulture began at a young age, discovering different varieties and seeing how much joy flowers bring to people.

  2. Professional career

    One of the largest plant nurseries in the UK

    Learning how plants grow, what they need, how they work together and how to choose the right plant for the right place.

  3. Qualifications

    Garden sciences and landscape architecture

    An HND in Landscape Science and Landscape Architecture studies at Manchester Metropolitan University.

  4. Head gardener

    A three-acre garden

    Maintaining established planting schemes, including borders I have designed and historic planting.

  5. Today

    Garden Artist Wirral

    27 years of professional experience, creating authentic planting plans and bespoke garden designs.

Roses and white flowering shrubs softening a new porcelain patio, planted by Garden Artist Wirral

My philosophy

Right plant, right place. Spend once, not again.

My work is driven by the belief that good garden design begins with understanding plants. I believe beautiful gardens come from understanding plants, not simply arranging them to look pretty.

I don't just choose plants for how they look today. I understand how they'll grow, spread, compete and complement one another over the years, so my planting schemes mature beautifully while reducing unnecessary maintenance.

Every planting scheme is personally designed, sourced and planted by me. From the spacing and positioning of individual plants to the orientation of specimen shrubs, I take care to ensure that each plant contributes to the overall design and has the best opportunity to establish and thrive.

  • Soil
  • Aspect
  • Colour
  • Texture
  • Structure
  • Seasonal interest

Another room of your home

A garden that feels like yours

A garden should be much more than an outdoor space. It should become another room of your home: somewhere to relax, enjoy nature, entertain and escape the pressures of everyday life.

My job is to listen, understand what matters to you and then combine that with my experience to create a garden that feels completely right. You can see some of the results in the garden design portfolio.

Google Reviews

What clients say about working with Helen

  • Helen was amazing from start to finish. She worked really closely with me and came up with an amazing design all beautifully laid out for me to see clearly, then carried out the job perfectly. Gave me loads of really good advice and tips, and is now always on hand for any question I may have at any time, I have no clue about gardening so perfect!

    Bronwen Carey

  • Helen listened to what we wanted and drew up a really interesting plan. She has a very wide knowledge of plants which shows now in our growing garden. She was always punctual and reliable and has offered after care too. So glad we found her!

    Elizabeth Kirkham

  • After a few unsuccessful attempts at finding a garden designer we stumbled across Helen - and it was a good thing we did. She listened to our wants and ideas and she delivered exactly what we wanted - a Mediterranean style garden that would be low maintenance, drought tolerant and able to survive with the awful soil we have. She suggested improvements we could make and drew up a planting plan - like 'planting by numbers' that was foolproof. We still have a few gaps to fill as lots of the plants need to grow some more and fill their spaces. We're looking forward to a revisit from Helen with a few more plants to fill some of the gaps.

    David Lucioni

  • Helen renovated my garden a year ago, and the transformation has completely exceeded my expectations. Every border has matured beautifully, and the garden is full of colour throughout the seasons. It not only looked fantastic when the work was completed, but it has continued to develop and improve over the past year. From my first contact with Helen, she was professional, hardworking and incredibly knowledgeable. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Helen to anyone wanting to make the most of their garden with a thoughtful, well-considered design.

    Paula Houghton

  • I chose Helen, based on positive reviews from her previous customers, and she certainly lived up to them! Having had a new patio laid late last year, I was keen to have the borders planted to add some colour and interest. Helen initially visited, listened to my thoughts and preferences with regard to plants and colours, and then designed a very detailed planting scheme, with photo referencing. Her horticultural knowledge is very impressive, and she offers really useful advice and information for ongoing care of the plants in an easily understandable way for a gardening novice like me. Helen began the border preparation and planting in mid March, and just a few months later we had a beautiful, colourful display. It has been quite exciting, discovering new blooms, as the different plants start to flourish We are thrilled with the result, and would have no hesitation in recommending Helen.

    Jo R

  • Helen is our garden guardian and her visionary expertise is without doubt an inspirational force to her planting scheme, she achieves all year round colour and intensity to our utilitarian landscape, with her in depth approach and knowledge she works closely and cohesively to our brief and has delivered an outstanding landscaping project that we still can’t believe it’s ours!! Helen delivers on time and on budget, she uses the best quality contractors and ultimately provides a seamless service.

    Corinna Gould

  • Fantastic from start to finish. Great design, seamless ordering, started and finished on time, real grafters and ideal after sales. We couldn’t be happier. Thanks you

    Rich

  • Helen’s hard work and vision has just been a wonder for the garden over the last 18 years. She’s so reliable and knowledgeable. I’m just thrilled.

    Belinda Tzemis

  • Helen is a true professional artist! She paints with the colours, structures and textures of plants. Her design work is innovative and highly imaginative. Her planting schemes are rooted in sound understanding of soil structures, how to improve fertility and a comprehensive knowledge of what plants will thrive in the particular conditions.she transformed a sterile "easy maintenance" patch of pebbles into a charming front garden that now, one year on, is burgeoning beautifully and a joy to see. She is efficient, reliable, clear and honest in her business dealings. She turns up when she says she will, liaises closely and works extremely hard. She's a real gem! I have no hesitation in recommending her.

    Pauline Mottram

Young plants with their roots and fresh compost ready for planting

Let's talk about your garden

Whether you have a clear plan or just a feeling that it could be better, I'd love to hear about it.