About Us | Elks-Smith Garden Design in Southampton, Hampshire

Helen Elks-Smith FSGD

Known for her thoughtful approach to design and expertise in subtle, textural planting, Helen’s work is informed by a lifelong love for landscape and an intuitive understanding of the way gardens make us feel. Creating timeless gardens that are sensitive to their location, she believes that a beautiful, well-designed garden can have a hugely positive impact on our well-being.

With a background in mathematics, Helen went on to study garden design at Writtle College where her two interests were combined giving her the rare ability to think both creatively and technically, so that the gardens she creates are not only beautiful but practical too. She set up her studio in 2005.

In 2019 Helen was made a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers for her outstanding contribution to the industry and has won numerous awards including two RHS gold medals, three design awards from the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) and two Design Excellence Awards from the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI).

She lives in the New Forest in Hampshire, working across the UK.

Design Philosphy

We believe that landscapes and gardens should inspire, delight and sit comfortably in their setting. We have a strong understanding of how gardens can make us feel and how beneficial our response to the landscape can be and believe that a well-designed garden can have a wonderfully positive impact on our well-being.

Spatial design is at the heart of all great gardens and it is a particular passion of ours. We pride ourselves on our creativity, attention to detail and the craftsmanship that goes into each of our gardens from the hardscape detailing and our choice of materials to our tailor-made planting plans. Our ambition is to achieve pared-down design with strong detailing where ideas, threaded throughout the space, give the garden a sense of rhythm and balance.

All of gardens are bespoke to our clients’ needs and are designed to reflect and enhance the location and retain a strong sense of place. We spend time establishing the brief for each garden project and enjoy taking our clients with us on a creative journey where they can take ownership of the design solutions.

We have received a number of high-profile awards for our work, including recognition from the Society of Garden Designers (SGD), the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Our work has also been widely published in national magazines and newspapers and featured in several garden design books.

Elks-Smith Garden Design is a Registered Practice of the Society of Garden Designers (SGD).