After 23 years, renowned garden designer Dan Pearson is closing his London-based studio. The practice will cease operations on September 11, with plans to complete ongoing projects. This decision comes after Pearson and his partner, Huw Morgan, took extended sabbaticals, during which they reflected on their work and future direction. Pearson’s sabbatical included a transformative trip to Mexico, while Morgan focused on charity and education initiatives. These periods of reflection led them to reassess their priorities and ultimately decide to close the studio.
Pearson, who founded the studio with Morgan, has been designing gardens since 1987. Together, they built a team of nine employees, creating spaces known for their artistic naturalistic planting and sense of place. Their portfolio includes notable projects such as the grounds of Lowther Castle and the Goodwood Art Foundation. Despite the studio’s success, Pearson emphasizes that running a busy practice was never his primary goal, and he now seeks to align his work more closely with his environmental values.
A Shift Towards Ecology and Conservation
When I took my sabbatical, I had already started to ask: how can I take the skills that I’ve learned and hone them to be working much more closely with my strong belief that we have positive agency over our environment? Pearson told Gardens Illustrated. He plans to spend two years refining his approach, moving away from traditional garden design toward ecology and environment conservation.
During this period, Pearson will focus on “refinement and being nimble,” exploring how his skills can contribute to ecological conservation. He describes this phase as a “sideways move,” emphasizing that it is not an end but a transition toward deeper, more meaningful work. His goal is to collaborate with like-minded individuals to create places that resonate and have real environmental significance.
Hillside Garden: A Central Role
Pearson’s Somerset home and garden, Hillside, will be central to his next chapter. He plans to open it for workshops, small group visits, and potential film projects. Hillside became a full-time residence for Pearson and Morgan during the pandemic, and they began hosting gardening weekends and teas, which became highly sought-after events among gardening enthusiasts.
The practice is known for creating spaces with a true sense of place and artistic naturalistic planting. The more you put into it, the richer it gets, and it feels like I need to nurture it. And from that, I will feel what the next move really needs to be.
Ongoing Commitments and Future Plans
Pearson will maintain his advisory role at Sissinghurst and move into that capacity at Beth Chatto Gardens, mentoring the team as they implement a new masterplan he revealed for the expansion of the garden. He’ll also continue pro-bono work for the Garden Museum and Maggie’s Centre Bristol. These commitments reflect his dedication to projects that enhance public spaces and support communities in need of healing environments.
While the studio closes, Pearson emphasizes this isn’t retirement. “This period that I’m going into now is a period of reflection; not exactly metamorphosis, but refining who I am, what I do best, what I do well, making new connections with people who might be able to or might need my help with making places that resonate, and that have some real meaning, in terms of being able to work towards or nurturing our environment in a really well-thought-through way,” he said.
Pearson’s decision to close the studio has involved careful consideration of his team’s future. He acknowledges the challenge of transitioning the nine employees, describing the studio as a “big nest” that requires careful unpicking. However, he is confident in their ability to find new opportunities, given their skills and enterprising nature. This transition marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, as Pearson redefines his role in the world of garden design and conservation.
