The ribcage range of plant supports was developed for my own garden due to a need to prop up large herbaceous plants during the summer. During this season the steel disappears into the foliage and invisibly gives support to heavy stems. As the plants die back in the autumn they are revealed and give the beds a different character.
The steel work is manufactured by hand and finished in a small artist’s workshop in the North Nottinghamshire village of Styrrup. This means there is an individual touch to each item, they are not, nor do they appear to be factory made. I have experimented with various finishes and have found that the rusted steel colour is the most fitting for a leafy setting.
A painted or powder-coated finish might look smart in a garden centre, but it doesn’t last and will look scrappy as it turns to rusted metal. The galvanised and patinated finish can be too light and bright in the garden. However individual requirements can be catered for.