Giles Rayner
commissioned to create sculpture for RHS Chelsea Garden
Globally renowned water sculptor to represent Silent Pool Gin
at London showpiece.
Giles Rayner, a leading player in the world of
water sculpture, will take centre stage in the Silent Pool Gin Garden at the
upcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 (22nd – 26th May).
The latest creation from Rayner - who is noted
for his stunning Arches of Oman sculpture which lies in the gardens of The
Royal Opera House in Muscat - has been commissioned by Neale Richards Garden
Design, which is responsible for the design and installation of the overall
Silent Pool Gin Garden.
Rayner specialises in using copper, stainless
steel and bronze, often at a large scale, to create imaginative and highly
individual designs, which combine energy and intrigue with simple aesthetic
beauty. He will use polished copper distillation helmets in the construction of
his sculpture at the Silent Pool Gin Garden, in a nod to the Holstein still
used in their gin-making process, which comes from the Surrey Hills. His
creation at the Silent Pool Gin Garden will see Rayner’s sculpture sit within a
garden design that combines hard landscaping with drifts of soft planting,
using Purbeck walling, Portland stone and weathered oak.
A raised infinity pool will flow into a lower
reflective pool, and a private canopy will be provided by multi-stemmed trees.
The use of moving water empowers each design with real life, achieving
sometimes a sense of the dramatic; sometimes the more peaceful.
The news of Rayner's involvement comes hot on
the heels of his show-stopping Arches of Oman water sculpture, which is still
wowing visitors to and residents of Muscat. An inimitable design featuring two
entwined tusks, it is 12m tall and 7m wide, and the sculpture features a
majestic flowing curtain of water.
David Neale, managing director at Neale Richards
Garden Design, said: "The sculpture that we have commissioned Giles to do
is a representation of the citrus notes which go into the Silent Pool Gin as
part of their botanicals. This was a way to include this particular botanic in
a non-botanical way as we could not include citrus in the planting, but have
included Orris root (Iris), Angelica archangelica and Chamaemelum nobile
(Chamomile), as well as possibly rose and lavender into the planting."
He continued: "We had seen Giles' work at
previous shows so know the quality of craftsmanship that goes into his work. Plus,
the copper that both Giles uses and the sponsor has in their distillation
process tie in well. This should have some great presence within the garden as
you will see it takes a central place at the show, being easily viewed by the
public and lifted up within a raised pool."
Giles Rayner said: "I am delighted to have
been invited by Neale Richards Garden Design to contribute to the Silent Pool
Gin Garden. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is an iconic event which represents the
joys of Spring in the UK like few other occasions, and I am looking forward to
creating a sculpture which, like the season, is bursting with energy and
life."
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is celebrating its
107th year in 2018. The event is recognised as the world's pre-eminent show for
landscape gardens and flowers.
For more information, visitwww.archesoman.com
For editorial enquiries, contact 0131 357 8977 or email pr@redheadpr.co.uk
Ends
About Silent Pool
Silent Pool Gin was launched in 2014 on the
Albury Estate in the heart of the Surrey Hills by Ian McCulloch and James
Shelbourne. The gin has delicate yet full-bodied flavour with fresh, floral and
clarifying citrus notes, grounded by earthy cassia bark and cubeb.
Currently exported to more than 24 countries,
it has most recently launched in the US (California) and Japan. Silent Pool Gin
also gained Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In the
UK, it is available to buy at Waitrose, Majestic, Marks & Spencer and
independent stockists, as well as online at silentpooldistillers.com. Prices start at £36 per 70cl bottle.