Featured: Top Five Garden Designer, Homes & Interiors Scotland
Recognition from Scotland's leading lifestyle magazine
I was thrilled to be named one of the top five favourite garden designers by Homes & Interiors Scotland - the country's foremost home and lifestyle publication. For a magazine with such discerning editorial standards and a reputation for championing Scotland's best creative talent, this recognition feels particularly significant.
What makes this award meaningful isn't just the honour itself, but what it represents. Homes & Interiors Scotland doesn't simply showcase pretty pictures - they champion professionals who bring genuine innovation and thoughtfulness to their work. Their focus on "beautifully designed homes and innovative architecture" aligns perfectly with my own approach to garden design: spaces that are both aesthetically compelling and rooted in sound horticultural principles.
My practice is built on the foundation of being a Chartered Horticulturist and Master of Horticulture (RHS) - qualifications that reflect years of study and practical experience. But what truly drives my work is understanding the deeper relationships between plants, environment, and the people who will live in these gardens. It's about creating spaces that work on multiple levels - visually striking, ecologically functional, and psychologically restorative.
The ecological and naturalistic approach that defines my Glasgow garden design practice isn't about following trends. It's about responding intelligently to Scotland's unique climate and landscape while supporting local biodiversity. When I combine clipped topiary with vegetable gardens and naturalistic planting, I'm crafting spaces that provide sanctuary for both people and wildlife - gardens that enhance daily life while treading lightly on the planet.
What sets my work apart - and perhaps what caught the magazine's attention - is the analytical approach I bring to understanding each client's needs. Every garden has its own story, shaped by the site's conditions, the client's lifestyle, and how the space will actually be used. Understanding the psychology of place is fundamental. Creating pockets of privacy within larger gardens, establishing sight lines that draw the eye, designing spaces that invite exploration - these considerations shape every project.
Homes & Interiors Scotland champions a philosophy of "look locally but think globally" - something that resonates deeply with my practice. While my gardens are rooted firmly in Scottish soil and climate, the principles of ecological garden design, biodiversity support, and creating psychologically restorative spaces are universal. This recognition suggests that the work happening here in Glasgow contributes to a broader conversation about what sustainable, meaningful garden design can achieve.
The magazine's commitment to showcasing "flourishing and established artists and makers" who reflect "the country's creative landscape" positions garden design where it belongs - as a genuine creative discipline and essential part of Scotland's cultural identity. Gardens aren't merely decorative; they're creative expressions that shape how we experience outdoor space and connect with nature.
This recognition reinforces my commitment to pushing boundaries in Scottish garden design - creating spaces that are beautiful, ecologically responsible, psychologically restorative, and genuinely sustainable. Each project becomes an opportunity to explore the relationship between people and place, and to demonstrate how thoughtful design enhances daily life.
As environmental consciousness and mental health awareness grow increasingly important, the naturalistic, ecologically-minded approach I champion will become more relevant still. Being recognised by a publication that values innovative design confirms we're moving in the right direction.
Tom Angel is a Chartered Horticulturist, Master of Horticulture (RHS), and garden designer based in Glasgow, specialising in ecological and naturalistic garden design across Scotland.
