Five times awarded 5 Gold Stars at RHS Chelsea
Robert James Workshop
A History at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
It’s been quite the journey since our first expedition to the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show – way back in 2011 – when the public first met our beloved literary sculpture range. From humble beginnings to a must-see, must-photograph annual attraction for Chelsea-goers. Let Jim tell you the story…
“We wish to enchant...”
How we got started at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Our first Chelsea was supported by the Clipper Tea Company, a business that originated in Beaminster, Dorset, where Bob resides. They were incredibly generous and essentially helped us finance our first show.
In return, we advertised their products; the stand was made with fabricated tea chests, featuring copper edges and Clipper Tea stencils on the sides.
We made tea for everyone who visited, which was an absolute delight and gave rise to plenty of little chats with the curious public, each of which meant a great deal to us.
A tent, a chessboard floor, and big ideas
Reaching an international audience
The show itself has phenomenal global reach. Visitors, quite literally, fly in from all over the world to see the latest in garden design and satellite businesses like our own.
Our first actual stand was a ‘Chelsea Hat’ – which could only be described as a posh tent! I designed a chequered chessboard floor with a diminishing perspective, with asymmetrical display chests to add to the sense of intrigue of our Wonderland bronze stand.
It looked... unusual, shall we say. Quirky but perfectly communicating our ethos:
We wish to enchant.
Stress, sales, and shared stories
What we learned from year one
That first show was certainly stressful. We didn’t know where to be, or when. What if Her Majesty walked by? We had to learn how the public behaved – there would always be quiet days, and sales would sometimes be next to nothing. Fellow tradespeople shared stories of good days and bad.
Over 15 years, sales have grown. People now come not just to buy, but to see what we’re up to. We’re often told ours is one of the most photographed stands on the entire site.
Bigger space, bolder ideas
Looking ahead: what’s next?
Our first show produced enough sales to keep us afloat, thankfully. A friend invested in producing one of the hot-cast characters in return for a 50% stake in its sale.
Luckily, it sold – and so began Chelsea Chapter II.
Each year, I create a new exhibition design to display our sculptures. It gives the work fresh life and keeps things original for visitors.
At the start, we had just 7 pieces. We now show over 64. Each year, 2 or 3 new members of the family join the display, while others take a back seat.
Planning for the next show begins almost as soon as we unpack. In fact, I’ve just submitted a request for a larger space so we can create our most ambitious piece yet: a "Water Babies" sculpture. It will be our largest creation to date – an underwater pond world, raised up into the air, inviting everyone to dive in with their imaginations.
A Pictured history
RHS Chelsea Flower Show through the years
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