THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Artist in Residence
We take great pleasure in announcing the first ever Modern Mint Artist in Residence – the wonderful photographer Andrew Yates!
What is Andrew’s story?
At the age of six, with his first camera in hand (a Kodak Brownie, if you’re asking…) Andrew began developing his passion for capturing the wonderful moments of our lives.
After studying fine art and design Andrew travelled, his camera always with him.
Exploring the world and developing his style, he landed back in London in the early 90’s where he debuted in fashion and editorial photography, before moving into portraiture.
This technical nous and experience can be seen in some of his latest work, that we are so pleased to have available for you here at Modern Mint…
A move to Scotland ensued where his focus turned to wildlife, the countryside and its inhabitants.
Recently Andrew has made a new base for himself in Salisbury. This is where we met him when we presented the Modern Mint shop at the Christmas Market in 2015. We laughed at lot with him. His personable manner and strong spirit is reflected in the work puts into each photograph.
It is his choice to embrace the fine art Giclee printing process which seems to bring out the depth and vividness of his compositions.
We admire so much the themes he captures and his instinct for a striking moment, caught from behind the lens. It made him the stand out choice to be the first Modern Mint Artist in Residence.
We hope you will love these art works as much as we do. They are available signed, mounted and in several sizes to suit your home. Please note some are limited editions (and so well worth buying quick!)
Enjoy the wonderful countryside art work of our first Artist in Residence, Andrew Yates.
See more/Buy now.
Topiary Teaching For 2026
A new year, so time to share a few thoughts on what I will be looking at doing with topiary, and the focus on teaching I would like to put in place, for 2026 and beyond. Above is Nandina, made by a student of ours from the European Boxwood and Topiary Society. She took a year to work on this, taking a plant not renowned for being a good topiary plant, but seeing what its weirdness is and what values it does have, then exploring and exploding those. I am thrilled by this. Not just this look for autumn. A …
Topiary Workshop 2026 at Waltham Place
The next topiary workshop I will be teaching is now live on the website and can be booked! Just visit Waltham Place to get a ticket for the Topiary Workshop I will be teaching on Friday September 4th at Waltham Place. Myself and Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society (Buxus expert! Like, he knows everything there is to know about the plant! So worth booking just to tap into his knowledge….!) will be teaching here for the… fifth year in a row I think? The garden is a beautiful place to spend time clipping. We will teach …
Michael Gibson, New York Topiary Art!
In the New York Times earlier this year was a lovely interview with Michael Gibson, who makes topiary and gardens in New York. The article is here but you may not have access… however, search the internet, find it and have a read. It is great! His philosophy of pruning is especially worth it… Sacred geometry in topiary? Yes please! What a phrase! I think (and speak) of balance, of major and minor, of leaf volume… but sacred geometry might well make it into my topiary teaching lexicon! And the idea of directional trimming? I realise I do this, but …






