Well-respected figure in garden design, Annie Guilfoyle, discusses her winding professional journey and finding stability amid her travel-inclined nature.
In the picturesque countryside of West Sussex, Annie Guilfoyle, a renowned garden designer, calls her home. But her journey to this point was not a straight path.
Annie Guilfoyle's love for gardening began early, leaving school before sixth form to train as a riding instructor. This passion for nature eventually led her to study horticulture part-time at Capel Manor College. After honing her skills, she gave up her publishing job to dive into horticulture full-time, studying at Middlesex University.
Her dedication paid off when she won a competition to design a garden at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This triumph marked the beginning of a successful career in garden design, leading her to work as the director of garden design at KLC School of Design for 18 years.
However, Annie's story does not end in the UK. Her passion for travel and meeting new people led her to Italy, where she fell in love with the people, language, landscape, and food. She now takes Italian lessons to refine her grasp of the language and is an annual attendee of the Bergamo landscape festival in Italy. In fact, she serves on the selection committee for this esteemed event.
Annie's love for Italy extends beyond travel. She runs Garden Masterclass events with garden writer Noel Kingsbury, who shares her passion for Italy, art, and filmmaking. Together, they design gardens throughout the UK and lecture in Pennsylvania and Poland.
Annie's work has been recognised with a biopic on Keith Wiley of Wildside garden being shortlisted for a Garden Media Guild Award. After graduating from Middlesex University's Garden Design degree program, she re-joined the university as a lecturer.
Today, Annie is also involved with the Tuppenny Barn charity near her home in West Sussex, where she teaches garden design courses. Her work continues to inspire and educate, reflecting her lifelong passion for horticulture and travel.
