Charlie Day runs a garden design firm based in Lincolnshire. Influenced by both the historical & modern landscapes of England, Italy and Kenya, his designs offer the structure and classical grandeur of an Italianate or country house garden, combined with a unique wild, flowing, whimsical element - a nod to the African plains of his childhood, perhaps. Charlie also specialises in bespoke shellwork features, shellhouses and grottos and boasts a range of made-to-order pots that overlap into interiors. With over 16 years experience, Charlie works personally with his clients, carefully designing & landscaping country house or London gardens around each brief. He also takes on stand-alone shellwork projects in the UK and abroad. He is held in high regard for his tasteful choice of materials and knowledge of the most beautiful plant & tree specimens.

Charlie produces hand-drawn & water colour impressions to accompany the more technical digital drawings.

Also specializing in shellwork - Charlie employs classical Italianate artisan techniques to create magical spaces - shell-houses, grottos - and shellwork features in some of the more intricate areas of his clients’ homes and gardens.

His creations include shell houses and grottoes; elaborating on existing features such as pillars, alcoves, archways, fountains and indoor & outdoor bar areas. He has also transformed interior spaces such as pool houses, orangeries and follies. He often produces a 3D maquette in paper & clay.

Charlie grew up in Kenya, and went to Marlborough College, in Wiltshire aged 14. He trained as a sculptor at The Florence Academy of Art in Italy for four years then moved to the UK to take on sculpting commissions. During this time, he worked with a Country Estates Manager, and it was through this Charlie fell in love with landscapes.

In 2008 he completed a Garden Design Diploma at Merrist Wood, Guildford College as pupil of teacher & RHS Chelsea judge Andrew Wilson, then cut his teeth with Justin Spink Garden Design in the Cotswolds. Having developed a keen interest in grottoes he worked on in Cotswolds gardens, Charlie went on to train under renowned shellwork and grotto designer Belinda Eade, and in 2010, started his own garden design firm.

During a commission to create a mannerist shell house, Charlie’s passion for sculpture and architecture was truly reignited, and visions of his time spent in Italianate gardens came to the fore. He has since married the two crafts successfully.