Annalal's Gallery
Enchanting 180 yr old cottage, home of two Royal Academy artists. 32ft x 12½ft garden on 3 patio levels. Pencil gate leads to colourful scented Victorian walled garden. Sculptures and paintings hide…
Anna and Lall Sims, two working artists, have lived here for thirty years. The small cottage garden has slowly evolved over the last few years after the partial rebuilding of the 180year old Victorian wall, which surrounds it, creating a micro-climate for plants and shrubs. As the area was relatively small, the idea was to create a sweet-smelling garden of interest and depth. This has been achieved on three different patio levels with rambling clematis and scented jasmine entwined archways leading through two sculptured pencil gates.
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The working studio is camouflaged with clematis and honeysuckle. The pots and borders are bursting with ferns, lilies, cottage garden flowers and colourful grasses. Hidden amongst this variety of plants are sculptures by Lall and on the old walls hang Anna's paintings. On warm summer evenings the cottage is filled with the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle. Entrance is through the cottage studio/conservatory (leading past a full sized pony rocking horse) where everything is handmade and sculptured by these Royal Academy Artists; some works are for sale. A truly magical experience.
A new addition to the cottage is a mural of their Greyhound called Charity painted on the front of the cottage.
Park in Saxon Square PCP - exit to Millhams St via alley at side of church.
