Kew Royal Botanical Gardens - Introduction to English Garden History

Worldwide traveller, Camelia Shakti has an MA degree in History and a Post Graduate degree in Landscape Design. An experienced and talented story teller and a passionate explorer of city, mind and landscapes, Camelia works as a yoga artist and designs pop-up yoga playgrounds using petals and seeds. Her designs function as events and have been featured among other places at the V&A Museum of Childhood and Regent's Royal Park. Having explored the aesthetics of horticulture and the practicalities of gardening, she has worked as horticultural consultant for the biggest garden centre in the UK and volunteered on garden projects around the world focusing on environmental approaches to landscape design and maintenance. She has been visiting Kew Botanical Gardens for the past 7 years and is happy to share and bring context of this magical space that houses the biggest collection of live wild species from around the world and beautiful architectural gems that reflect the history of the Industrial revolution, the growth of capital and the transformation of thought and practise into the Age of Reasons, through the Enlightenment and into contemporary efforts in conservation and genetic research. The story that Kew helps us unravel is one of identity and how Britain became a country of gardeners.

Hattie has a degree in History of Art and an MA in Historic Interiors, she has a life-long passion and fascination in Fine and Decorative Arts, particularly works produced in Europe from the 16th to 18th century. After working for the Royal Collection in the Print Room at Windsor Castle, she was a curator for a private collector of 17th and 18th century prints and drawings. This sparked a keen interest in portraiture and English art, as well as the printed image. Hattie has worked for London's foremost framer of important old master paintings during which time she sharpened her appreciation and understanding of the decorative arts and the changing tastes of collecting. Recently she has been dealing in prints and works of art as well as taking groups of all ages to museums and galleries.

Cindy Polemis is an art historian and an independent lecturer and tour guide. She has a B.A. in History from Oxford University and as a mature student, she graduated from Birkbeck College, London University with a B.A. and M.A. in History of Art. She spent many years as a radio producer and presenter for the BBC World Service. Since 2016 she has been an official guide at Tate Modern and Tate Britain and has lectured independently. Cindy has accumulated a wide range of art historical knowledge and loves to share her passion and enthusiasm for art with her audience in many different venues throughout London and beyond. She is also an accomplished cook, a sour dough bread baker and has many contacts in the artisan food and wine scene in London.