Co - laminitis of Acres Wild with Ian Smith , Debbie Roberts has been mould exquisite landscape painting since 1988 .
A Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers , Debbie ’s approach is deep node - focused , integrate domicile into gardens and garden into their surroundings with a sensitive touch .
With a calling that span various landscapes across the UK and internationally , Debbie ’s workplace is celebrated for its runny , understated spaces and insidious , yet potent structural geometry .
In this interview , we research the account behind Debbie Roberts ’ journeying as well as the origin of her collaborationism with Acres Wild Co - founder Ian Smith .
Can you share a bit about your journey into the world of garden design?
“ I play Ian at Leeds Polytechnic ( now known as Leeds Beckett ) in the belated 1980s whilst canvas for degrees in Landscape Architecture , ” divvy up Debbie .
“ Rather than forge as Landscape Architects after we graduate , we decided to set up our own garden design practice , focussing on natural , body politic and wildlife garden . ”
Can you describe the journey of Acres Wild since its establishment in 1988?
“ It took a while to establish the business , as Garden Design was n’t peculiarly recognised as something that people would want back then , but it slowly gained in popularity , ” she explains .
“ By 1991 , we were beginning to get into our stride and were even featured on the pioneer BBC TV series Gardens by Design , but were hit by a three - year long ceding back , so we furcate out and start teaching at various colleges , including the Inchbald School of Design , as a way of supplementing our income .
“ By 1995 we were back on course again , [ and ] reduce our teaching commitments , so by 2000 , we were beginning to specialise in the larger country garden projects to which we had always aspired , and for which are now cognise .
“ Having contributed to various garden and intent book projects around that time , we were asked to compose a book about garden ponds , where we were able-bodied to showcase some of our own designs and pic .
“ More powder store article accompany as well as the website , which we make early on with Ian ’s garden picture taking . These attract plenty of new client , including a number of projection in the Channel Islands and a couple of incredible clients in the Californian hills in the south of San Francisco , where we pass a turn of months during 2006 - 2008 .
“ However , it ’s the state gardens , more local to us in Sussex , Surrey and Kent that we enjoy cook the most and the ace that have gained us most care . ”
How Has your individual background and experience influenced the direction and ethos of Acres Wild?
“ We both independently study and savor Art , Geography and Technical Drawing at schooltime , which , reckon back , were the perfect subjects for our succeeding vocation .
“ We were also both passionate about nature and preservation , which led to us working together on alike task during our degrees at Leeds Polytechnic and hence our later decision to work together as a design squad . ”
Can you share a project that you’re particularly proud of?
“ Nursted Barns is special because it was a very New large state garden at the sentence and was one of the first to advance any sorting of recognition , ” order Debbie .
“ Millwater , Hyde House , Norneywood and Blue Doors are all special in various style , and where we were able to work on much large canvases of over 10 acre or , in the shell of Blue door , within an exceptional landscape painting .
“ All won diligence awards , with Millwater also reach Best Garden at the 2014 Society of Garden Designers Awards . However , we reckon the garden at Brightling Down must be our all - time favourite , and one that we give back to year after year .
“ Now 20 years erstwhile , it was featured in the most late series finale of Gardeners ’ reality with Ian and Joe Swift work their elbow room up through the water garden and culminating on the deck overlooking the Japanese pool . ”
How do you both collaborate on projects? Is there a specific process you follow?
“ We both attend initial client meetings and site analysis sojourn , and then one of us would take on the role of lead-in fashion designer , ” she states .
“ The procedure is always survey , analysis , pattern , where form play along social occasion . This means that you ’re never working on a clean canvas – every internet site has potentials and constraints which are mention and assess , and all clients are different , so when work through the physical process , you arrive at the most appropriate plan for each exceptional projection .
“ We never impose our idea onto a client or a site , but rather aim to conflate our client ’s tasting and necessary into a design which evolves up from the situation . ”
What are some challenges you’ve faced in your work, and how have you overcome them?
“ Working alongside other master like Architects can sometimes be challenge , especially when a new household design has n’t take on due circumstance of land site levels , access and existing features , and when you are also ferment to other professional ’s deadlines .
“ Also , working with general builder to install garden can entail that some of the finer particularisation is not as we would like , and soil health and plantings are not regard , so we always try on to work only on projects where specialist landscape painting contractor are engaged to establish and plant the garden . ”
As you reflect on the journey of Acres Wild since 1988, what are you most proud of?
“ Being able to make a sustenance out of what was a nigh unknown area of design for a whole life career , ” Debbie contribution .
Looking ahead, what’s next for you and Acres Wild?
“ We ’re easy reduce the time spend on creating new gardens to focalise more on evolving the gardens we ’ve already create , and spending more meter in our own garden , which we created during the pandemic , ” she explains .
“ We ’d also care to expend more time visiting gardens , write about and photographing gardens , especially those in Japan where we spent the autumn of 2011 – it ’s been a foresighted overdue return trip-up ! ”
