For us, being part of a team means that we all have the same mission at heart. We’re storytellers, brought together by a love of thoughtful design, looking to create imaginative, joyful spaces that enhance the ways people live, shop, work and play. And by connecting the unique skills, ideas and insights of every member of our collective, that’s exactly what we make happen.
Justin Thomson
Company Director
An extremely experienced landscape architect, for more than 35 years Justin has worked on a vast range of projects across the full spectrum of landscape planning, design and construction. Having developed a specialism in landscape assessment studies as part of major developments, he regularly acts as an expert witness, presenting landscape evidence at public inquiry.
Rupert Grierson
Company Director
Rupert Grierson
Company Director
Well known for his flair in concept design, Rupert combines this creativity with a deep technical knowledge, honed over his long career with Macgregor Smith. Having delivered a vast range of high-profile projects over his 25 years with us, Rupert’s commitment is to creative, innovative design and high quality implementation, creating inspiring spaces which stand the test of time.
Rupert has a strong interest in educational and public realm work. He guides many of our younger colleagues in the process of design and is a visiting tutor to the Department of Architecture & Engineering at the University of Bath.
BA (Hons)
University of Gloucestershire
DipLA
University of Gloucestershire
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Gemma Griffin
Company Director
Gemma Griffin
Company Director
Having joined Macgregor Smith in 2010, Gemma quickly became a key member of the practice, rising through the ranks to become a Director. Enthusiastic, responsible and capable, she has a wide range of project and site experience. With her strong design and communication skills, she has successfully worked on public realm schemes, urban regeneration sites and educational projects in both the UK and in China.
With drive, clarity of purpose and excellent personal skills, Gemma leads on many of our highest profile projects and is particularly passionate about creative collaborations with artists and the joy that these partnerships can bring to our everyday spaces.
A space that’s important to me is the summit of May Hill in Herefordshire - it is one of my favourite childhood places. A wild and open hill topped with an old group of Corsican Pines, it’s a landmark for miles around. It’s worth the trek up through the ancient woodlands at the base (prime mushroom foraging land!), with amazing views to the Welsh border from the top. Growing up in such a rural county gave me a real love for nature, for being outdoors and appreciating the amazing role our natural world has to play in so many aspects of our lives.”
BSc (Hons) Landscape Architecture with Ecology
University of Sheffield
MLA
University of Sheffield
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Lizzie Palmer
Senior Associate
Lizzie Palmer
Senior Associate
Lizzie has been part of the Macgregor Smith team for over 25 years. Over this time, she has built up an extensive portfolio of experience, ranging from masterplanning to successful delivery on of schemes on the ground, which have attracted numerous prestigious BALI awards.
Lizzie is a landscape architect of exceptional ability, with a real passion for plants. Her communication skills are second to none and she is well known in the industry for her first class organisational skills in the management of contracts on site.
My daily walk to our office takes me through the quiet back streets of Bath’s steep northern slopes. On the way, I pass Lansdown Crescent which is one of my favourite places. It’s a place that encapsulates the essence of Bath : a grand Georgian crescent perched on the hill but hidden away in a tranquil and almost rural corner. In winter, you can see the city lights from the crescent’s wide pavements, but in summer the backdrop of trees encloses and hides the view, giving the place a secluded quality. There are often sheep quietly grazing on the steep meadow fronting the crescent - a little piece of countryside only minutes from Bath’s beautiful Georgian centre.
BA (Hons)
Leeds Metropolitan University
DipLA
Leeds Metropolitan University
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Jamie Cusack
Senior Associate
Jamie Cusack
Senior Associate
Since joining Macgregor Smith in 2011, Jamie has built on his excellent analytical and communication skills, playing a key role in many of the practice’s most prestigious projects across the UK, often in complex urban environments and involving numerous landscapes over structure.
Jamie brings a professional approach, combined with the intellectual rigour that is required for dealing with complex and fast-paced projects, often with numerous stakeholders to satisfy.
Although run close by the Memorial Stadium, home of Bristol Rovers, my favourite place must be Dartmoor. During my formative childhood years spent on the edge of this wild landscape, I came to deeply appreciate its sparse, rugged beauty as a familiar, if slightly foreboding, presence on the edge of my consciousness. As I got older, the moor began to offer an epic landscape ripe for exploration; walking, climbing, mountain biking, wild camping alongside boulder-strewn streams, and discovering historic remnants of human activity in the form of neolithic settlements and long-abandoned tin mining works. Whether it’s the distinctive granite-piled hilltop tors, the brown and purple hues of heather and gorse, grass kept golf green short by grazing sheep and wild ponies, lone wind-stunted Hawthorne trees, or the odd piece of unexploded army ordnance it’s safe to say Dartmoor will always hold a special meaning for me.
BSc (Econ) Politics and International Development Studies
University of Wales, Swansea
PG Dip Landscape Architecture
University of Gloucestershire
Chartered Member of Landscape Institute
Robin Hutchinson
Senior Associate
Robin Hutchinson
Senior Associate
An experienced landscape architect with a decade of experience, Robin is an extremely talented landscape designer, with a real skill for communicating ideas clearly and managing the implementation of schemes of the highest quality on the ground.
Calm and collected, Robin is technically competent beyond his years and has a very keen eye for detail. His conscientiousness and professional attitude make him a highly valued member of many of our project teams, both within the practice as well as part of the wider professional community.
My favourite place very much depends on when you ask me. On a cold crisp clear winter’s day, surely the frozen beaches of East Lothian can’t be beat! Given my complexion and the efficiency with which I absorb vitamin D; on a sunny day hopping from chalky hills into the shade and shelter of the dotted woodlands on Cranborne Chase is probably my go to. If I’m outside and wearing shorts, I’ll be happy.
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture
Leeds Metropolitan University
DipLA
Leeds Metropolitan University
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Sara Lavigne
Associate
Sara Lavigne
Associate
Sara spent the formative stages of her career with Macgregor Smith, providing her with a strong grounding for a subsequent period working with Martin Lonsdale. Sara was welcomed back to Macgregor Smith in 2015, with her broad base of experience ensuring that she fits into her new role as a member of our senior team of landscape architects.
Thoughtful and responsive, Sara’s personal skills and clarity of vision make her a valued member of the design team at Macgregor Smith.
The landscape of the Isles of Scilly has long been a draw to me. This small, circular archipelago with its towering sea-rounded granite stacks and rocky margins, wild expanses of tussocky grassland, sheltered turquoise shallows and sparkling white sand beaches are my go-to peaceful space. The weather is always unpredictable and travelling by small boat between the islands can sometimes be challenging, conditions changing in a blink to make crossings a rollercoaster thrill ride of heaving seas and salty spray. For me, whether I’m walking, kayaking, swimming, or simply beach combing for sea pottery and those ever-elusive cowrie shells, the landscape provides constant delight and has given me a wealth of cherished memories over the years.
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture
Gloucester College of Art & Technology
DipLA
Gloucester College of Art & Technology
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Katja Nagle
Associate
Katja Nagle
Associate
Originally hailing from Berlin, Katja is one of our leading Associates. Conscientious and extremely capable, Katja balances her passion for design with a real appreciation of how things work on the ground, ensuring that the spaces we design are full of vibrancy but are also built to last.
Committed to driving the practice forwards, Katja is key to sharing knowledge around the studio and nurturing our younger colleagues as they progress through their careers.
A few years ago I drew a “blob” on a planning application drawing for a client who wanted to “dig a pond”. Little did I know that one day on a frosty winter morning, several years later, I would swim in the freezing cold water hearing the tinkling ice shards, re-setting my mind and re-connecting with nature, the elements, the colour of the water, the trees and animals who allow us to be beside them. Followed by a hot cuppa and laughter with my fellow swimmers whilst taking in that little haven we’ve created there where people find peace, solace and friendship – with each other and with landscape.
Engineer of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning
University of Applied Sciences of Berlin
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Cormac Lennon
Associate
Cormac Lennon
Associate
Cormac joined us in 2013 after working in Ireland following his graduation from the prestigious University of Edinburgh. With exceptional personal skills, confidence and the ability to work as a real team-player, he is a core member of the team here and enjoys good relationships with many of our key clients.
With a focus on design and communication, Cormac has a very broad skillset that brings competency to projects throughout their lifespan – from inception right through to completion on site.
A space that’s important to me is Mullaghmore on the west coast of Ireland. Growing up I was lucky enough to spend most of my summer holidays there. It is a remarkable landscape of vast scale and intricate detail carefully sculpted by the elements over thousands of years. The surf is pretty good as well.
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture
Edinburgh College of Art
MSc Landscape Architecture
University of Edinburgh
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Rosie Madden
Associate
Rosie Madden
Associate
Rosie joined Macgregor Smith following a year’s post-graduate experience at Kinnear Landscape Architects in London. This, combined with five years of studies, has allowed her to very quickly get stuck into various stages of the design process for both small and large projects, from concept design and public consultation through to detailed design for construction.
Rosie’s ‘can do’ attitude and flair for design all contribute to the valuable role she plays within the practice and have had a significant positive impact on our fantastic schemes at North Street Quarter in Lewes, Everards Printworks in Bristol and most recently our work on Bath Quays North & Plymouth City Centre.
I have great memories of spending all day on Belhaven Bay, near Dunbar during my time at Edinburgh University. We would often have the mile long beach to ourselves, walking through the beautiful sand dunes and marshes and braving the freezing sea as early as March. Dunbar is the birthplace of the inspirational conservationist John Muir known as the “Father of the National Parks” and is the namesake to the country park rich in habitats and wildlife. I have got caught out once or twice heading home as Belhaven Bridge is not quite wide enough at high tide!
MSc Landscape Architecture
University of Edinburgh
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
James Richer
Senior Landscape Architect
James Richer
Senior Landscape Architect
James joined the team at Macgregor Smith in 2011 from Townshend Landscape Architects. In his role at Macgregor Smith he has worked on an incredibly diverse series of projects across the UK and in Spain. Over his time with the practice, James has built his upon his contract experience with a series of podium landscapes and public parks.
Bringing an extremely keen eye for detail and technical solutions, his contribution to the high profile work of Macgregor Smith is profound.
From the Cathedral like Beech woods of the Chilterns, to rugged Welsh oakwood, towering Redwoods of Washington, the vibrant and dank Palenque jungle, to the majestic primordial forests of NZ south island. I’m happiest in the woods. The plethora of flora and fauna, hidden glades, aroma of wet leaves, dappled sunlight, the glimpsed deer, the promise of adventure, I’m happiest in the woods. Family walks with the dog, picnics perched on a fallen bough, watching my boys disappear up a tree, or smashing trails on my mountain bike, the woods are my fondest landscape.
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture
Kingston University
DipLA
Kingston University
Hannah Slade
Senior Landscape Architect
Hannah Slade
Senior Landscape Architect
Hannah joined Macgregor Smith following 10 years working at Grant Associates, where she played a key role in a wide range of projects across the UK. She has a passion for designing stimulating and rewarding environments that transform people’s mindsets and have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.
With her enthusiasm, drive and excellent skills as a team player, Hannah is a real asset to the studio, bringing clarity to our most complex and demanding projects.
Hannah is a keen cyclist and gardener and enjoys visiting her favourite gardens, Hauser and Wirth in Somerset and Kettles Yard in Cambridge as often as she can.
One of my favourite landscapes is Dungeness on the Kent coast. The surreal vastness of the gravel peninsular, as well as the huge sky above it never fails to impress me. I love its weirdness, from the ominous presence of the decommissioned nuclear power station, the fisherman’s shacks, artists retreats, and architectural experimentations to the surprisingly rich biodiversity found within the landscape. A series of monolithic concrete acoustic mirrors, constructed in the 1930’s pre-radar technology, also adds historical intrigue: it’s a melting pot of human intervention and nature’s resilience over it.
BA(Hons) Architecture
University of Brighton
MA Landscape Architecture (Merit)
University of Greenwich
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Alex Lippai
Senior Landscape Architect
Alex Lippai
Senior Landscape Architect
Alex moved to Bath following the successful completion of his Masters degree at the University of Gloucestershire. Alongside his studies, Alex worked at Pegasus Group where he gained experience working on projects of various scales and across all stages of the design process.
Alex’s creativity and excellent hand drawing skills have proved extremely valuable as he works on projects in our retail and education sectors, as well as a number of private garden schemes.
My favourite place would have to be the Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool. Having visited the World Heritage Site many times throughout my childhood, I’ve built fond memories of walking along the waterfront and learning about its rich maritime history. I also love seeing how the docks have evolved each time I return, from the iconic industrial red brick warehouses being repurposed, to the new skyline and public realm emerging as a result of further redevelopment. The result is a compelling contrast between the old and the new. Despite now living further away, I make sure to visit the historic waterfront every few years, most recently to propose to my now fiancée!
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture
University of Gloucestershire
MLA Landscape Architecture
University of Gloucestershire
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Yushi Wang
Landscape Architect
Yushi Wang
Landscape Architect
Following her graduation from the University of Sheffield, Yushi worked at ALD and Gillespies, where she developed strong landscape design and masterplanning skills. Since starting at Macgregor Smith in 2021, Yushi has proved herself to be passionate about creating sustainable connections between place and individuals, as well as the emphasis on integrating ecology and artistic elements into design.
My favourite place is Suzhou old town in China. The most memorable experience was that I had a hand sketching study tour to Suzhou during my university years. I will always remember the summer that I was sitting in front of various grotesque stones and trying to use my pencil to record their unique form and configuration, surrounded by classic Chinese timber pavilions, stones, lilies ponds, islands, and bridges. I loved the slow pace of life in this gem of the city, and it is worth visiting again and again.
MA Landscape Architecture
University of Sheffield
BA Landscape Design
Shenyang Agricultural University, China
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Jake Whittaker
Landscape Architect
Jake Whittaker
Landscape Architect
As part of our internship scheme for students, Jake originally joined Macgregor Smith for a year at the beginning of 2019. He then returned in 2020 for a further year after completion of his fourth year at the University of Bath. Jake has now successfully completed his Masters Degree and has rejoined us once more as a full-time qualified landscape architect.
During his time with us he has worked on a variety of projects, gaining experience across different sectors. He is extremely focused and hard working, and with his architectural background he has a keen eye for detail and brings strong technical & design skills that have led to him running a series of Lumion, 3D visualisation workshops for the office.
Growing up in the south-west, trips up to visit my grandparents in the North Yorkshire Moors alluded to five hour stretches on the motorway and a climate that seemingly got greyer and rainier as we headed ‘up north’. However, once we reached our destination, we were treated to a landscape devoid of people, cars and pollution. Rising up the steep escarpment from the small village of Ingleby was like a journey through the Jurassic Period, with towering pine trees, dense bracken and narrow, overgrown footpaths. In contrast, once we had reached the summit, there would be the wide sweeps of open heather moorland, forming a spectacular carpet of purple in late summer and views over to the majestic peak of Roseberry Topping.
BSc (Hons) Architecture
University of Bath
MLA
University of Gloucestershire
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute
Hal Woodhouse
Landscape Architect
Hal Woodhouse
Landscape Architect
Hal originally joined Macgregor Smith for two years in 2019 before returning to University to complete his Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture. Following successful completion of his Masters, he has returned as a full-time qualified landscape architect. Hal has worked on a variety of projects gaining experience across different sectors and is currently working on our retail & leisure site at Rushden Lakes in Northamptonshire.
One of my favourite places is the Rivelin Valley, where I went on many walks and runs during my time studying at the University of Sheffield. The landscape inspired much of my dissertation which looked at how landscapes are affected by time through a series of oil paintings. Bringing an uncommon medium to landscape architecture visualisation to explore the temporal nature of a landscape and as a process to conceive of how a site might change in relation to climate change. Watching the seasons change as I revisited the same spots brought joy throughout the year from the burning autumnal tones shifting to a focus on textures as the leaves fall into winter.
BA (Hons) Architecture and Landscape
University of Sheffield
Masters in Professional Landscape Architecture - MAPLA
University of Sheffield
Qi Zeng
Landscape Architect
Qi Zeng
Landscape Architect
Following her degree in Landscape & Garden Design at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, Qi realised that she wanted to explore landscape design from a larger perspective and so moved to Nottingham to complete her Masters in Sustainable Urban Design. She then gained experience working at DSA Environment + Design Ltd before moving to Bath in September 2023. Qi is passionate about exploring the relationship between people and the environment and finding ways to actively engage people with their surroundings.
My favourite place is a mountain in my hometown called Shenguang Mountain. It boasts numerous temples dedicated to various deities, drawing countless visitors to blessings. The smell of incense from the temples somehow gives people a sense of peace. I have ascended this mountain countless times since childhood, yet the most memorable occasion was when my mother took me and my friends there just before a crucial examination. On that day, we revelled in the freedom and happiness of playing in the forest. It was the first time I realized how soothing and rejuvenating nature could be. As the sun nearly dipped below the horizon, its warm, crimson hues bathed the entire city, instilling in me a profound sense of hope and optimism.
MArch Sustainable Urban Design
University of Nottingham
Landscape and Garden Design
Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
Janet Jonik
Accounts Manager
Janet Jonik
Accounts Manager
Janet runs our financial team, supporting the Directors with tight management information. Her skills are of the highest standard and are recognised through her work as a Senior Examiner for a UK and International Bookkeeping and Accounting examinations board.
My favourite place is my garden. Having learnt to garden late in life, to me it represents one of my best life achievements. It’s my haven when life gets tough, it is kind to me and forgiving of my many mistakes, it embraces me and always makes me feel so much more at peace with the world.
Catherine Chuter
PA/Marketing
Catherine Chuter
PA/Marketing
Catherine works closely with our Directors and extends her excellent personal and organisational skills to assist the running of the practice across all sectors, from design to administration. She is a core member of Macgregor Smith and plays an important role in maximising our service to our clients.
My favourite place is always a beach – whether a windswept rocky one on the Isle of Wight or a turquoise crystal clear one in the Caribbean. If I had to choose one it would be Ramla Bay in Gozo. Completely unspoilt with no surrounding buildings. Famous for its red sand and historical scenic views.
Emily Sandall
Senior Practice Administrator
Emily Sandall
Senior Practice Administrator
Emily brings skills developed from her Media Production degree and business administration experience from her previous role at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Her personal skills and organisation skills are of the highest standard and she is at the heart of the operations of Macgregor Smith.
Apart from a hot sunny beach in Kalkan, my favourite place has to be here in Bath. Despite not being a huge fan of trekking up steep hills, Alexandra Park hosts one of the best panoramic views of the city. As a born & bred Bathonian, I love looking out over the view of Bath and trying to place all the landmarks and spot my house! There is also a little cake café so what's not to love!
Community
Step inside our studio and you’ll find a calm, collaborative hub of creativity. We love what we do and it comes through in our care and support for one another, whether we’re bouncing ideas around in a briefing session, putting our heads together over a design decision, or meeting up for weekend bike rides in the beautiful Bath countryside.
That’ll do’ – just won’t do!
One of the great things about our studio is the culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration that exists. Our projects past and present boast a vast array of contexts and complexities and an impressive depth of knowledge within the group. Regular project sharing sessions and in house design reviews ensures this knowledge is passed on and built on, helping us consistently produce confident, ambitious and rigorous designs that have no time for a ‘that’ll do’ approach.
Cormac Lennon
Associate
A tribute to Michael Smith
Famed for his huge smile and warm personality, Mike Smith, founder of Macgregor Smith Landscape Architects, was once described as ‘the man who just couldn’t keep still’. His energy and enthusiasm for both his work and life was boundless, and his passion for landscape – which came through so clearly to everyone he met – made him a highly respected, inspirational colleague and teacher. Sadly, Mike passed away at the end of 2017, after being diagnosed with cancer.
To clients, Mike was known as a visionary whose wonderful human touch, alongside his ability to communicate his ideas clearly and simply, made him incredibly special. Within the practice he was renowned for being a motivational and optimistic leader, immensely proud of all his staff and with a firm belief in nurturing and bringing new graduates ‘up through the ranks’. Mike’s open, honest, collaborative way of working was reflected back throughout the practice, and led to many of the original staff members still being with the practice to this day.
Mike’s presence is still very much felt within the team – both as a fair, generous employer, and as a friend with a tremendous sense of fun, who was always at the centre of every occasion. His mission was always to create landscapes in the public eye which would be used and enjoyed – and these landscapes are still there, living, growing, and making life better for the people who use them. Instilled with Mike’s sense of playfulness, warmth and collaboration, these spaces will continue to bring joy for many years to come, cementing the legacy of a truly unique, unforgettable leader.
