Leading Artist’s Mural to Communicate the Nature of Levens Hall and Gardens

Award-winning South Lakes eatery, Levens Kitchen, will soon be celebrating a whole new attention-grabbing element, thanks to artistry from a Chinoiserie specialist who has created talking pieces for famous names including Alice Temperley, Kate Moss, Paul O’Grady and Kit Harrington.

Freddie Wimsett is currently working on a mural featuring British trees, plants and animals either native, or imported, at the time the building of Levens Hall was finished, around 1820.  This includes the rare black fallow deer, specifically found in Levens Deer Park.

Freddie’s aim is to bring the outside in, interpreting the natural offering of Levens Hall and Gardens in a wilder and less structured way than is associated with the property’s star attraction – the world’s oldest topiary garden.

The mural is being created in acrylics, right before the eyes of customers frequenting Levens Kitchen for relaxed dining lunches, brunches or refreshments and cakes.  Once painted, it will be sealed with varnish, keeping the colours true.  

It communicates the many other facets to Levens Hall and Gardens, beyond topiary, including some within the house itself.  Elements from an existing mural, in the private Chinese Room in the south wing, will be incorporated into Freddie’s masterpiece.  

The existing mural was painted in the mid-1960s, by artist Harry Kellard, assisted by David Walker.  Kellard was quite a name of his time and in charge of props for Glyndebourne, for several years.

His work was commissioned by the parents of Levens Hall and Gardens owner, Richard Bagot.  Richard and his fiancée, Chloe, have appointed Freddie, in part, as a nod to the past.  Freddie’s work, although in modern Chinoiserie style, will carry echoes from yesteryear.

As an American, born and raised in Minnesota, Freddie has always been fascinated by British history, even before relocating to Britain in 2010.  That career move was hugely beneficial, whilst the catalyst for his phenomenal success was actually negative commentary from an architect who claimed Freddie lacked the talent for a particular project.  The desire to prove otherwise was the pivotal factor that catapulted his career. 

Whilst Freddie did not study art formally, he has developed his own style since painting his first mural – a jungle scene – at the age of 12.  This style can be described as unregimented and free, whilst still paying homage to traditional Chinoiserie.  Now living in Somerset, he enjoys a natural, peaceful environment that helps nurture his love of nature and its communication through art.

His works express his profound interest in the fundamental beauty of nature and demonstrate an intuitive sense of colour and exacting eye for detail.  Those details will also facilitate interaction with Levens Kitchen customers.  A card, to be placed on each table, will encourage customers to spot the relevant plant and date attached to it.

Freddie is “beyond thrilled” to be commissioned to produce the mural for Levens Kitchen.  He says, “Each and every element is an adventure and I am honoured to be involved in something that is historically important but also a reflection of what is essentially a family home.”

Levens Hall and Gardens owner, Richard Bagot, says, “We were very familiar with Freddie’s work and knew he was exactly the right artist for this project.  The mural will fuse the many different facets of Levens Hall and Gardens, combining past and present in a visually stunning piece of art.  By having this work by such an acclaimed artist on public view, we shall share Freddie’s talents with all Levens Kitchen customers and add yet another reason to visit our venue.”                    

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Editors notes

Levens Hall & Gardens is a historic house in the South Lakes, Cumbria, close to Kendal and home to the world's oldest topiary gardens, dating from 1694, created by French garden designer, Guillaume Beaumont. The Hall is a stunning Elizabethan house built around a 13th century pele tower and has close links to the Duke of Wellington, as well as various items which once belonged to him and Napoleon Bonaparte. Levens Park is home to the rare Bagot goats gifted to the Bagot family and a place in which to stroll and enjoy nature. Levens Kitchen is the contemporary new cafe, full of delights for cake lovers and foodies alike.