An evening with acclaimed garden designer Penelope Hobhouse in conversation with her son the writer Niall Hobhouse discussing her life and work. Followed by dinner in the Roth Bar & Grill.
Penelope Hobhouse has had a long career in gardening – designing, writing several books, lecturing and leading tours, including Persian gardens in Iran. She has recently been awarded an MBE for services to gardening, and is one of horticulture’s most respected figures, making gardens in Britain, Europe and America for clients as diverse as Steve Jobs, Jil Sanders and Elizabeth, the Queen Mother at Walmer Castle in Kent. Her books include Colour in the Garden, Gardening Style, The Gardens of Persia and In Search of Paradise: Great Gardens of the World. She holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s highest honour, the Victoria Medal.
Niall Hobhouse is an art collector and writer on architectural and curatorial issues. As a patron, Niall has commissioned a number of buildings in London and on his formerly owned Somerset estate, by the Smithsons, Florian Beigel, Cedric Price, Stephen Taylor, Skene Catling (RIBAAward winner for Diary Cottage) and most recently Hugh Strange, whose architecture Archive won a RIBA National Award in 2014. He is a Life Trustee of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, and he lectures and writes for the V&A, Architectural Association; and the Architectural Review, the Economist, Building Design, Oase, Log and AA Files.
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Art of the Garden is a celebratory programme that will explore the relationship between gardening, art and the landscape. This autumn and winter, to celebrate the opening of Oudolf Field, a perennial meadow designed by Piet Oudolf, Hauser & Wirth Somerset has invited leading lights in the fields of landscape and garden design, art and sculpture, literature and photography to talk about their work.
Art of the Garden is curated by Caroline Donald, Garden Editor of the Sunday Times
