As Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party exhibition draws to a close at the Garden Museum, join us for a special talk with designer and artist Luke Edward Hall and garden designer Duncan Cargill. Together, they will take us behind the scenes to reveal how Luke brought the visual design of Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party to life, and the enduring influence that Beaton has on artists and designers to this day.
Curated by Emma House, the exhibition blends archival research, curatorial insight, and rich visual storytelling, Luke and Duncan will explore how Beaton’s glamorous, whimsical world was reimagined for today’s audience. The conversation will meander delightfully into the gardens of Beaton’s beloved Reddish and Ashcombe homes—spaces where his passion for theatre, floristry, and fantasy found vibrant expression.
As they reflect on Beaton’s enduring legacy, Luke and Duncan—both contemporary creatives inspired by his vision—demonstrate how his influence continues to shape modern design, ensuring his spirit remains as vital and inspirational today as ever.
Speakers
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Luke Edward Hall
Luke Edward Hall
Luke Edward Hall is an English artist, designer and columnist. Luke’s philosophy is shaped by his love of storytelling, nature and fantasy. His work is often inspired by mythology and folklore, filtered through a lens of irreverent romanticism. Luke established his studio in
the autumn of 2015 and works on a broad range of projects and across multiple disciplines. He exhibits his drawings and paintings with Athens-based gallery The Breeder, and works as an interior designer, creating and art directing hotels, bars and restaurants. Luke is the Creative Director of Chateau Orlando, a new clothing and homewares brand, which he co-founded in 2022. He has authored three books, and in March 2019 he joined the Financial Times as a weekly columnist in FT Weekend, answering readers’ questions on interior design. Luke Edward Hall was born in Hampshire, England in 1989, and studied menswear fashion design at Central Saint Martins. He works from his studio, which is housed in a barn on a farm in the Oxfordshire countryside. -
Duncan Cargill
Duncan Cargill
Duncan Cargill is a garden designer, artist and illustrator. He is one half of Cargill Sykes an award-winning garden design studio who have been creating beautiful outdoor spaces since 2017. Based in London they work across the UK and further afield.
In 2018 Duncan won an award from the Society of Garden Designers, in 2019 his garden was awarded a Silver Gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. In 2024 Cargill Sykes designed the planting for Gucci’s catwalk show at Tate Modern and in 2025 they designed a classic English rose garden for Chanel.
Duncan has illustrated books for Rizzoli and lectures at the London College of Garden Design and the Norfolk School of Gardening.
Born in Norfolk in 1970 he studied fine art at Chelsea College of Art, history of art at Birkbeck, and in 2017 garden design at The London College of Garden Design.
