Hampshire peacock
This elegant mosaic was developed from an iconic Maggy Howarth design to sit within a bold new garden by Helen Elks-Smith. Commissioned by a private client in Hampshire, the brief was to create a piece that worked in harmony with the planting and connecting pathways, helping to establish a natural viewpoint from which to sit and enjoy the wider garden.
The design, evolved by George Howarth, features a striking peacock in full display set within an octagonal frame. The bird’s tail feathers create a natural symmetry across the piece, while the radiating background lines contrast with the concentric circles of the plumage to enhance the colour and depth.
A half-flower border runs around the edge, subtly framing the peacock and echoing the colour palette of the bird’s beak and legs. The octagonal edges of the pebble work align precisely with the width of the connecting paths, integrating the mosaic seamlessly within its setting.
Created by master craftsman Mark Currie together with Maggy Horan and Tim Trea, the fabrication process involved extensive cutting, tumbling and carving of green, black and blue Lakeland slate (supplied by Burlington Stone) to form the border flowers, feather stems, and the beak, legs and head feathers of the bird.
The circular plumage was made from hand-cut and shaped semi-precious stones including Red Jasper, Amazonite, and Lapis Lazuli, while multi-coloured Scottish sandy granites form the contrasting background. Lines of blue glass beads accentuate sections of the peacock’s body, creating subtle depth and movement across the surface.
Our installation team worked alongside landscaper Brian Herbert and his team to ensure the mosaic was carefully bedded into its new home.