I was asked by the owners of Newby Hall, Rick & Lucinda Compton, to shell the garden pavilions which flank the path leading down to the river Ure. Sitting at the bottom of two exquisite herbaceus borders in their garden, the pavilions boast a spectacular position in a garden which began in the 16th Century.

It was a privilege from start to end and we created some very special designs. It was a combination of our interpretation of architectural detailing from the house designed by Adam in the 18th Century, with original concepts from Lucinda and myself.

It means the world to me and my team that we are part of something at Newby Hall that will be treasured for generations.

Lucinda Compton “Shell rooms and grottos were the height of fashion in the 17th and 18th Century when Newby was built. I have always loved shells, they remind me of where I grew up by the sea in north Devon. I wanted the pavilions to mirror the designs used in Adam’s work as seen in the house – figure of eight borders, roundels, ovals, demi-lunes, swags and scrolls. We’ve successfully incorporated many of my shells – oysters, razor clams and tiny pink cowries, as well as the sea fans I collected many years ago in Senegal – into the design. Now the pavilions are finished, they are a peaceful place to just sit quietly and reflect. The shell designs are so delicate, exquisite and beautifully executed – transporting us back to that age of Elegance.”

They can be enjoyed and viewed by the public. Visit the house and garden at Newby Hall, North Yorkshire