Explore the Profiles of Landscape Designers: Jo Thompson Features Prominently
Ain't everything as it seems, mate. Small in stature yet mighty in spirit, Jo Thompson is one tough cookie you don't want to mess with. After all, how else could a single mother of two rise to become a globally recognized, award-winning garden designer in just two decades?
Fancy some inspiration?
- Our exclusive tour of Jo Thompson's The Glasshouse Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
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You'll find her roots in sheer hard work, courtesy of her pops - an Italian cocktail waiter who migrated from Rome during the heyday of La Dolce Vita and went on to establish a chain of Italian restaurants in southwest England. Growing up, Jo split her time between Rome, with its awe-inspiring classical architecture, and school in Poole, Dorset. She was quite the bookworm till the ripe old age of 14, when she discovered the allure of Simon Le Bon and the New Romantics.
Despite the charms of Duran Duran, Jo landed a spot at UCL to study Modern Languages. After graduation, she dabbled in fashion, working for an Italian gentleman who manufactured dresses for the iconic designer Jasper Conran. Best part? payment in designer clothes that fit because she couldn't afford to eat! After that, Jo dived headfirst into a PhD at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, delving into the works of Absurdist playwright and novelist Pirandello.
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Life took an interesting turn for pregnant Jo, who accidentally stepped across the road from her Maida Vale flat and asked the crew at Clifton Nurseries for help with improving her tiny roof terrace. It was a revelation. In just a few windy days, those nursery guys transformed the barren canvas of her roof into a whole new world, igniting Jo's path to garden design glory.
Within six weeks of her baby's birth, Jo was itching for a proper garden so badly that she relocated her family to Kent and became smitten with David Austin's rose catalog and the words of Christopher Lloyd. Two more babies and a design course at the English Gardening School later, Jo discovered her passion for garden design.
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In a world teeming with designers boasting hefty egos, Jo's humble approach won her a devoted clientele by crafting serene gardens through subtle interventions. Although she can herald sleek contemporary designs when the situation calls for it, she's at heart a country girl with a penchant for relaxed gardens on the brink of disheveled.
"You shouldn't be able to look at one of my gardens and immediately recognize it as mine," says Jo. "It should look like it's been there forever, like it could be there for eternity. And above all, it should be a welcoming and friendly space."
Her work resonates with folks in the creative industries, yet they often demand confidentiality agreements, so the press usually features her public work and prestigious show gardens like the Gold Medal-winning 2025 The Glasshouse Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which she crafted in collaboration with the women of The Glasshouse program, a prison rehabilitation initiative. Jo's impressive list of achievements includes countless awards, including a coveted Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Stay curious!
Jo Thompson Landscape & Garden Design, 2201 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JA, (+44) 20 7127 8438, www.jothompson-garden-design.co.uk.
- Jo Thompson's The Glasshouse Garden, a collaboration with The Glasshouse program, showcased at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2025, is a perfect blend of garden design and home-and-garden lifestyle.
- Jo Thompson's garden designs are a reflection of her humble approach to gardening, featuring relaxed gardens that exude a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
- An exclusive look at Jo Thompson's award-winning garden designs at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show can provide inspiration for every lifestyle, from home-and-garden enthusiasts to professional garden designers.
