I chose to study Landscape Architecture having read Fine Art where I specialised in Sculpture.   I quickly learnt that I could take my ideas into the third dimension through the production of concept and scale models. This has helped me to communicate my ideas to clients and colleagues, which I feel do not necessarily shine through in two dimensions. This can lead to a very exploratory method of working as I can then sketch and work with digital images from my models and develop the designs further, constantly finding new angles and ways of approaching the space that I am visualising.

It is equally important for me to understand the context of the site so as not to alienate my designs from their surroundings.  I particularly enjoy working in a site specific manner during the design process, such as with one of my projects ‘Northampton Light and Power’, where I exploited the floodplain potential and exposed the raw industrial qualities initially found at the site survey and analysis stages. This project won a Landscape Institute Award in 2004.

I enjoy designing useful spaces from rundown, tired, often offensive areas, which have the potential to connect and enhance existing and future urban rural infrastructure plans. My responses to the site influence the design thinking and the concept, thus instructing the design process to move forward.

I also like to question my role and responsibility as a Landscape Architect and Artist.  Landscape Architecture gives me the opportunity to really push my imagination and conceptualise my thoughts but also to practise essential skills required such as planting, construction and communication.  Practising as a Sculptor can be quite an isolating experience and it does not satisfy other interests that I have become involved with.

The challenge of combining imaginative concepts with the more sober pragmatic role of the Landscape Architect is what excites me.  Hopefully I can push some of the boundaries within this field, so I am part of a varied and exciting future.