Sir Tim Smit at Stone Lane Gardens

Sir Tim Smit honoured Stone Lane Gardens in 2022 by announcing the winner of the 2022 Ashburner Prize at Stone Lane Gardens on 1st July.  Sir Tim kindly agreed to ‘cut the ribbon’ to open the annual sculpture exhibition and helped raise our profile with a Press and PR tour. Stone Lane Garden Friends and sculptors enjoyed a Private View the same evening. The prestigious exhibition showcases the South West’s artists every summer.

Located near Chagford, Devon, only minutes from the A30 and Castle Drogo, the Gardens  have been described as “a gem” by horticulturalist and broadcaster Jo Swift.

In its 30th year the exhibition received a record number of entries from artists competing for the £1000 prize very generously sponsored by Caradon Granite.

Stone Lane Gardens is an RHS Partner Garden, which holds a unique National Collection of Birch and Alder trees from around the world. The Gardens have long had a connection with art and have a semi-permanent collection of sculptures to enjoy within its grounds by renowned artists including Peter Randall-Page RA.

The Gardens are an inspiration to artists and visitors. 2021 prize winner, Nicola Turner said, “Every time I visited, it was a joy to wander and discover all the exhibits nestled in its corners”.

The Ashburner Prize was named after the Garden’s founders, June and Kenneth Ashburner.

2022’s panel of judges consisted of internationally renowned ceramic sculptor Sandy Brown, author and academic Penny Florence, and charity trustee Sandy Lipo. The theme of the 2022 exhibition was Connectivity.

Sir Tim Smit is a co-founder of the Eden project and first gained notability with his re-discovery of the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall.

(Media contact: pressoffice@stonelanegardens.com)