alisonshadwellwilliams@gmail.com
https://swgardendesign.com/
Shadwell-Williams Design Studio
+1 650 387 7048
Graduation year: 2023/24 GDD, 2024/25 PDD
Alison Shadwell-Williams
My design philosophy emphasizes creating biodiverse, sustainable, and organic gardens that address climate change, firescaping, promote ecological harmony, and foster a sense of community. I like to focus on client-centered design, actively integrating their vision with modern practices to create functional and beautiful spaces. By prioritizing native plants, pollinator-friendly features, and water-wise techniques, my work supports thriving ecosystems and shared environments. Combining aesthetic excellence with sustainability, my gardens enhance the natural beauty of each site while inspiring connection and collaboration.
Biography:
Alison Shadwell-Williams is a garden and planting designer based in California, working throughout the United States and internationally.
She believes the best gardens are never fully appreciated in a single visit. They continue to reward those who return, revealing something different with each season.
Living and designing in California has shaped Alison’s approach to planting design. Working in a region where drought, water conservation and wildfire resilience are everyday considerations has given her an in-depth understanding of how plants perform under changing conditions. As British gardens begin to face many of the same environmental challenges, this practical experience continues to shape her planting design.
In 2025, Alison collaborated with fellow designer Yvonne Price to create The Hummingbird Haven: A Symphony of Movement and Colour, an educational border exhibited at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Inspired by the relationship between hummingbirds and the plants they have evolved alongside, the border celebrated movement, colour and pollinator-friendly planting.
Before establishing Shadwell-Williams Design Studio, Alison produced large-scale public events, developing the collaborative, organisational and project management skills that continue to shape her work.
Alison holds Diplomas in Garden Design and Planting Design from the London College of Garden Design, an RHS Level 2 Certificate in Plant Studies, is a Certified California Native Plant Landscaper through the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), and has undertaken specialist training in designing fire-resilient landscapes, including the principles of defensible space in gardens and around buildings.
Instagram – @shadwell_williams
A Napa Valley regenerative winery opening a new tasting room and event center. The design incorporates the celebration of regenerative farming and Napa Valley regenerating from devastating wildland fires over the past few years. Firewise planting is paramount.
