History

For 26 years Phillip Osman gained expertise as a panel beater and paint sprayer remodelling cars that bore the scars of accidents and neglect. He ran his own business but became disillusioned when he was working nearly seven days and the business was taking over.

As a child he helped his Dad in the garden but showed no special talent at the time. He was a bit of a hell-raiser for some years but when he moved into his current home ten years ago, the garden was really overgrown. Phil says 'I have an orderly mind and I couldn't have that. The railway carriage was a focal point and I just got interested in gardening again. I was working from home and spent the summer in the garden and really enjoyed it.'

In 2001 his father died of cancer and he re-evaluated his life. As he says 'One day I realised I grown to hate my job, so I took a gamble, gave up a well-established business, enrolled on a City and Guilds Garden Design course at Swindon College in 2003 and the rest, as they say, is history!'

According to his mother, he couldn't even draw as a child so it was a surprise that others recognised he had a natural aptitude for garden design. His college tutor, John Gilliam encouraged him to enter designs for the Malvern Spring Flower show, which showcases new designers.

Phillip was taken aback when his designs were accepted and that's when the really hard work began! It's very difficult for an unknown entity to get commercial sponsorship. Phil traipsed around many companies, had endless meetings and kept getting let down at the last minute.

With only two weeks to go, he put the final piece of the jigsaw in place that guaranteed he had all the materials and labour he needed.

Phil's design was the centrepiece garden for the show and was due to stay in place for the Three Counties Agricultural Show which lasted another month. As the excavations began, it became clear that the judges thought he had bitten off more than he could chew. They thought he was over-ambitious but he surprised them all by delivering a beautiful garden, sumptuously planted and on time!

The judges from the Royal Horticultural Society rewarded Phil with a Bronze medal, which is a significant achievement for a first-time exhibitor. Over 90,000 people passed through the gates and around the garden.

Following BBC television coverage, people travelled from as far a field as Devon and Southampton to shake the hand of the new designer who had inspired them.

Since then, Phil has been on the radio every month except March and October. In September, the story about the garden makeover for Diane Palmer from Pinehurst, was seen by almost one million people.

• Silver Medal at Malvern!
• Prospect Hospice and Malvern Garden Sponsors
• Malvern Diary
• Malvern Spring Show 2006
• Hampton Court Flower Show 2006
• ‘Changing Blooms’ Garden Makeover