Avant Garden London

Maria Belyayev Seagrave, BSc (Hons) Garden & Landscape Design

 

Maria trained at the Capel Manor College and Writtle University College. For six and a half years, Maria was working for Clifton Nurseries, a well-known London garden centre, as an Indoor Plant Specialist.

She was also involved in creation of several RHS award-winning gardens at both Chelsea and Hampton Court.

Maria has been gardening for as long as she remembers. Growing up in Former Yugoslavia meant spending long summer holidays with grandparents, tending to orchards and vegetable gardens, lots of wholesome home cooking, baking and any kind of preserving.

In 1993 Maria arrived to London, fleeing war torn Bosnia-Herzegovina spent first two years living as an Au Pair and learning English. For next 17 years, Maria joined Residential Property sector, first working her way up to a head office manager of one of the global firms and than running her own business concentrating on property acquisition, refurbishment and management.  

The love of gardening never left Maria so in 2016 she graduated Landscape and Garden Design at Writtle, Essex.  Combined with many years of experience from her work within London property market, her designs are inspired by her passion for plants and nature as well as inventive use of space and materials. Particular attention to detail and consideration of clients’ lifestyle guides every design.  

Maria uses hand drawing as a principal language for capturing thoughts, exploring and sharing ideas.  Translating ideas from mind to paper by series of quick sketches shows the client immediately what is possible. It also encourages discussions, making it easier to streamline the variety of ideas quickly, transforming the initial arrangement into a new design.