James Towillis

Who is James Towillis?

James Towillis is an English landscape artist. He won a Silver Gilt at the Chelsea Flower Show of the Royal Horticultural Society in 2010, with the L’Occitane Garden.

He was born in Berkshire and spent his early life there before moving to the Lake District where “his lifelong passion for gardens and landscape took root”. Spending “almost every weekend and holiday camping, walking, climbing and sailing in the Lake District and beyond” he went on to study Outdoor Education at Newbury College, before working in outdoor centres across the UK, which he practiced for six years.

Whilst travelling in the U.S he met with Amazon Watch, an environmental NGO focusing on the South American rainforests and its indigenous tribes. Their mission resonated with him immediately which led him to volunteer his skills as an activist. James went on to work with Greenpeace Hong Kong for two years as their Action Coordinator.

Returning to the UK by land James Towillis spent many months exploring China, Tibet and Mongolia. On returning to the UK he “continued exploring the landscape and seascapes of Cornwall through walking, surfing and painting”.