A Beverley-based garden designer is building a growing reputation both online and across Yorkshire, combining practical expertise with thoughtful, design-led gardens that are resonating with homeowners, architects and landscapers alike.
Emily Joy, founder of Emily Joy Garden Design, has built an audience of nearly 60,000 on Instagram, where she shares approachable gardening advice, behind-the-scenes project updates and honest insights into life running a modern garden design studio.
“There’s no airs and graces with us,” Emily says. “Clients often say they feel like they already know me before we even get started, and I think that comes from being very open and genuine online. We’re focused on collaboration and understanding that every project is completely different – whether it’s a full garden transformation or helping someone refresh their planting.”
Emily launched the business in 2023 after retraining and working hands-on in landscaping and gardening. What began with transforming her own garden quickly evolved into a steady stream of projects and a growing team of five now working across Yorkshire and beyond.
“A friend asked me to help with theirs, then another – and it just grew from there,” she says. “I remember finishing our fifth project on the same street and thinking, ‘this is the best testimonial we could have’.”
Since then, the studio has delivered a wide range of projects – from expansive wrap-around gardens for prestigious homes to compact courtyards, front gardens and biodiverse planting schemes for developers.
“It’s been an incredibly exciting year already,” Emily says. “Every project is so different, and that’s a huge part of what keeps it exciting for the team. We were in Northallerton on Monday, Skirlaugh on Wednesday and Sunderland on Friday!”
While the business is design-led, Emily says the studio’s hands-on approach is what drives her the most.
“People often think garden design is just drawings or pretty visuals, but there’s a very physical side to how we operate,” she says.
“We’re out in gardens, digging, planting, building and helping maintain spaces too. We genuinely love being on site and helping projects come to life.”
That balance of creativity and practicality has become central to the studio’s ethos – particularly at a time when inspiration online can often feel unrealistic or disconnected from how gardens actually function.
“There’s so much inspiration out there now, especially with AI and Pinterest-style ideas,” Emily says. “It can be useful as a starting point, but our role is to refine those ideas into something that will actually work for the client, the space and the budget. It’s about choosing materials that are right for the property, plants that will genuinely thrive there, and making sure every penny invested into a garden is spent wisely. There are a lot of moving parts, but we have a tried and tested process.”
In 2026, the studio expanded further with the addition of garden designer Anaïs Manin (MAPL), bringing additional planting expertise and technical knowledge to the team.
“I’ve known Anaïs for a while and really admire her work,” Emily says. “She brings a fresh perspective that complements mine beautifully, and that’s only a positive for our clients.”
The business has also welcomed experienced landscaper Craig Backhouse as the company continues to expand its physical services including in-house landscaping, planting and aftercare. With more than 20 years of experience in hard and soft landscaping, Craig has worked across the UK and internationally, including building football pitches worldwide.
“Craig joining the team is another huge step for us,” Emily says. “Having that level of knowledge and practical experience in-house allows us to deliver an even stronger service for clients and really take us to the next level.”
Based in the centre of Beverley, Emily Joy Garden Design works across Yorkshire – including York, Harrogate, Leeds and Hull, as well as further afield, with projects in Leicestershire, Herefordshire and Essex.
As the business continues to grow, Emily remains focused on delivering a service that feels collaborative and genuinely personal.
“Our clients come to us because they don’t know where to start,” she says. “We’re here to get to know them and go through a process that ends with a garden that not only looks beautiful, but genuinely works for how they live.”