Diarmuid Gavin studied amenity horticulture at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin. Following this he established his own garden design business. After twice winning the Royal Dublin Society Gold medal for garden design during the nineties, he displayed at the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in 1995 and 1996.
Diarmuid’s modern vibrant city garden in 1996 caused quite a stir and led to a career in television where he developed a unique style in contemporary garden design.
Diarmuid has returned many times to Chelsea and has achieved for major awards for his subsequent gardens.
“A Contemporary Suburban Garden” in 2004 was the subject of a five hour documentary series by the BBC called “Diarmuid’s Big Adventure” which has been subsequently broadcast worldwide.
He returned to Chelsea again in 2005 with the “Hanover Quay Garden” and again in 2007 year with the Westland Garden, both of which drew favourable critical comment.
This year he returns with a garden he has co-designed with Sir Terence Conran.
His television work has included many programmes for the BBC including Home Front in the Garden, Home Front with Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, Planet Patio and Art of the Garden, a series in association with Tate Britain on garden style through art.
He also co-presented Gardens Through Time, a series to celebrate the bicentenary of the Royal Horticultural Society and made a series for BBC called Garden School turning eight life changers into garden designers.
He has presented coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show, jointly with Monty Don for Channel 4 and Alan Titchmarsh for the BBC and for three years presented BBC Gardener of the Year and many other horticultural events.
Most recently he has made two hit series for Irish state broadcaster RTE on garden design called “I Want a Garden” which has been sold internationally and has made his first foray into television production with “Diarmuid’s Ponykids”, a documentary series he wrote which followed urban children being transformed from bareback riders to heroic showjumpers. This won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Factual Entertainment Programme 2008.
As well as success in the gardening world, Diarmuid has had vast experience in the media world. Utilising his expert knowledge he has written for many newspapers including The Telegraph and The Independent.
He has published eight books on garden design: ‘Home Front in the Garden’ ‘Planet Patio’ ‘Home Front: Inside Out’ ‘Big Ideas’ ‘Outer Spaces’ and ‘Design Your Garden’. Autumn 2007 saw the publication of a landmark book on garden design called “Outdoors” a collaboration with world famous designer Sir Terence Conran called ‘Outdoors’. The pair are now following up with another large tome on planting internationally.
Autumn 2007 also saw the launch in the UK and Ireland of a new monthly magazine on garden design entitled “Diarmuid Gavin’s Garden Designs”. He gives seminars internationally on garden design and the development of the modern garden and runs a business in garden design and construction based in Dublin and London’s Portobello Road, with clients in Europe, South Africa and the Middle East.
He is regularly called on by art, architectural and design colleges to give talks and seminars to students and to judge design competitions. He has recently worked from Moscow City Council examining the work of Russian contemporary designers. He is in high demand from corporate clients for promotional campaigns and works to identify emerging trends for some international consultancies.
Diarmuid’s designs philosophy follows the standard form and function, always listening to the client but adding a twist, an element of surprise and often fun. Diarmuid was awarded an honorary Doctor of Art from Nottingham Trent University in 2007 in recognition of his contribution to garden design.
He is a patron of the Southport Flower Show, Trees for Cities, Cricklewood Homeless Concern and is a supporter of the Niall Mellon Township Trust, The Rose Project which supports AIDS sufferers in Africa, the Cill Riallaig Arts Centre in Co. Kerry and regularly works with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme. He is married to Justine and has a daughter Eppie and lives between Co. Wicklow and London.
