Hi!

I’m James Whiting, botanical designer, retailer, stylist and all round plant lover. For the last seven years, I’ve been working with tropical plants in the corporate and retail world; but last year I took a big swing and went solo. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been putting plants here, there and everywhere; so it made complete sense to unleash Plants By There and #LUSHPLANTLIFE on London and beyond!

I’ve worked in a few roles and industries over the years and all have bolstered me to start this new venture that I hope you’ll be a part of. Starting by studying garden design in 2005 and then moving on to fashion retail in 2007. Next I went on to study Fashion Promotion in 2010, specialising in styling and brand creation. I graduated in 2013 before relocating from Wales to London. My fashion retail career continued and I worked for several luxury brands and retailers before circling back to work with plants again in 2017. The calling was too strong to ignore and what had been a passionate hobby, finally became my everyday.

Working for a creative and renowned interior planting company enabled me to work on projects of every scale and type.  I designed and sold large-scale corporate planting schemes, created seasonal displays, styled at prestigious events, ran corporate workshops and built and even grew an online houseplant retail brand (In-Tray Plants) during a pandemic! I couldn’t have asked for a better experience in a new industry. A huge part of my role was project management and my clients included WeWork, UBS, ITV, J.W. Marriott, Selfridges, Jo Malone, Vitra, Harvey Nichols, Bottega Veneta and Harrods to mention a few.

The most exciting part of my journey was exhibiting multiple houseplant displays at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a huge dream of mine as a plant obsessed teenager! My show debut in 2018 was with Indoor Garden Design and Ikea; I managed and built the #PLANTSWORK exhibit which won a Silver-Gilt medal. In 2021 I designed and created The Green Room in the new Houseplant Studio category, again with Indoor Garden Design for client Malvern Garden Buildings - we won a Gold medal!

Following an unexpected redundancy in 2021, I went on to grow the commercial installation department of an independent houseplant retailer and then became a manager and buyer for a luxury florist. In early 2022, the opportunity arose for me to spread my creative wings and design a Houseplant Studio for Malvern Garden Buildings at RHS Chelsea as a freelance designer…..FINALLY! The result? A Gold medal winning, ‘Best Houseplant Studio’! Planet Studio will forever be one of my favourite creations.

Until April 2023, I was Head of Product, Development & Community a luxury houseplant care brand. Naturally, I also designed and styled their botanical displays in the U.K. and Paris as well as creating a wealth of digital content. Since leaving this role, I have taken on multiple projects for corporate clients around London and as of September 2023, launched my very own online houseplant shop specialising in U.K. grown, peat-free houseplants and sustainable, stylish indoor gardening products.

May 2024 saw me return to RHS Chelsea with a new Houseplant Studio exhibit which secured another Gold Medal and ‘Best Houseplant Studio 2024’. My 70s inspired display Verdant Visions was a delight to create and showcase to the public and has spurred me on for an exciting journey for Plants By There!

I cannot wait to experience the next steps…

…Stay tuned!