Martin Portus
Consultant Director
Martin Portus
Consultant Director
Martin’s career began as an assistant head gardener for an historic house and gardens in Surrey.
Since graduating in landscape architecture in 1987, he has completed a wide range of projects and has gained considerable experience in relation to historic and sensitive sites that require careful analysis and negotiation with agencies such as Historic England. These include the design and implementation of the public gardens at Woodstock Museum, Oxfordshire and the landscape refurbishment at Ruskin College Oxford. Martin has completed many projects for the National Trust, either developments that require contemporary buildings and access within Registered Parklands or important landscape restoration commissions including the first phases of restoration of Croome Landscape Park and the research and restoration of the gardens at Wordsworth House in Cockermouth. Martin has also been a Landscape Consultant to the Cabinet Office for various projects in Whitehall.
He designed and is currently overseeing the implementation of Cirencester town centre, a £1.5 M project that involves the re-routing of traffic and creating a new public realm in the historic market place. Martin was for several years Chairman of the Cirencester Civic Society, a registered charity that works to protect and enhance the built environment and he continues to be involved in many community projects.
Francesca Fearnley
Landscape Architect
Francesca Fearnley
Landscape Architect
Having commenced her Conversion Landscape Architecture Masters, Francesca is currently working at Portus and Whitton to bring her studies to life.
Her role involves solo work as well as supporting the rest of the team in a variety of capacities from the creation of sections, visuals and masterplans, to developing planting schedules, undertaking research and report writing.
Alison Mulley
Landscape Architect
Alison Mulley
Landscape Architect
Alison started her career with Portus + Whitton in June 2019, having completed a Masters in Landscape Architecture, for which she was recently awarded a distinction. Since joining Portus + Whitton, Alison has been involved with a variety of projects, including the treatment of a historically sensitive site accessible to the public in Cirencester and the design of a gardenesque landscape setting for a care community in Sussex. Her experience has involved producing landscape and visual impact assessments and developing designs for a variety of projects within sensitive landscape settings, as well as construction detailing, preparation of tender information and the development of hard and soft landscaping schedules. Alison is continuing to enjoy exploring her skills as a designer and Landscape Architect with Portus + Whitton.
Graham Bryce
Associate Landscape Architect
Graham Bryce
Associate Landscape Architect
Adrian Hazelwood
Director
Adrian Hazelwood
Director
Adrian has been working in private practice for both Environmental and Architectural practices since the late 1990’s. In this time, Adrian has gained a wide range of experience including urban and landscape design projects from concept stage through to detailed design and implementation, as well as on large-scale feasibility studies, transportation schemes, and Environmental Impact Assessments.
Adrian is familiar with the sensitivities and skills required to work with historic buildings and landscapes, and has been involved in a number of HLF park restoration schemes. He has also developed a strong background in public realm design, and has implemented designs for a number of public squares, spaces and water features.
Adrian has developed landscape proposals for new, restored and refurbished buildings including Libraries, Museums and Law Courts. He has also worked on larger scale developments including care villages, education campus design, and hotel and leisure schemes.
John Whitton
Consultant Director
John Whitton
Consultant Director
After setting up a landscape team within a large London architectural practice in 1980, John established his own landscape practice in the Cotswolds in 1984 and was joined by Martin Portus two years later. A keen interest in the design of the wider living environment has involved John in a broad range of landscape design as well as architectural and interior design—from pavilions to opera houses. John encourages observation and drawing skills within the practice as a means not only to realise imaginary concepts but to be able to present these to others. John has worked for public authorities and for commercial, institutional and private clients including historic estates, universities, healthcare, church and leisure clients. John has a special interest in garden design which he feels brings together all the skills of the landscape architect into individual projects. Completed gardens range from the small to the enormous and complex, including lakes, fountains, grass amphitheatres and specially commissioned sculpture.
Steve Wilson
Director
Steve Wilson
Director
Steve has been working in the landscape design and consultancy field since 2006 having previously followed a long and successful career in international commerce. Since completing post graduate studies in landscape architecture Steve has worked for a number of award winning design practices, joining Portus & Whitton in 2009. Steve’s wide ranging project experience has allowed him to develop a breadth of specialist professional skills on high profile projects, particularly those situated within sensitive landscapes. His experience includes masterplanning, landscape planning consultation, landscape assessment, detailed landscape design, project implementation and on-site management. He is also regularly engaged as a professional witness at planning inquiries.
Working for both public and private clients, Steve has developed landscape proposals for law courts, universities & colleges, school sites, heath care campuses, hotel & leisure, care villages, residential schemes and gardens of all sizes.
Caterina Di Garbo
Landscape Architect
Caterina Di Garbo
Landscape Architect
Caterina studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Gloucestershire as a mature student, gaining a first class degree and a distinction at post-graduate level. Her previous experience ranged from web and graphic design, sound technology, and in the hospitality and tourism business in the UK and abroad. Whilst at University she worked for an Environmental practice gaining experience in Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments, Green Infrastructure and landscape planning using Geographic Information System.
Since joining Portus and Whitton in 2014, Caterina has been involved in a broad range of projects, including Residential and Educational Landscapes, Historic Landscapes, Private Gardens and Landscape and Visual Assessment. Working as part of larger teams, and at different design stages, Caterina has been gaining a varied range of skills, ranging from analysis and research, conceptual design, hard landscape, detailing and client presentation.
Caterina’s strengths to the practice are as a problem solver at all design stages, with a personal commitment to all her projects.
Anna Summers
Associate Landscape Architect
Anna Summers
Associate Landscape Architect
Anna has worked in private practice for 17 years and been involved with large masterplanning schemes down to the detailed construction design of hard and soft landscape. In recent years Anna has worked as a Sustainable Drainage System consultant which combines aspects of engineering, hydrology and landscape design. Project experience includes Mercedez Benz World, Gloucester Business Park, Thomas Hardy's Visitor Centre, National Wildlife and Conservation Park, Plymouth Academy, Gower Design Guide including landscape character assessment, sustainability workshops with schools, river restoration, public consultations, Anna enjoys promoting the sustainable facets of landscape design and integrating nature play, a sense of fun and exploration, and interactive education into everyday spaces.
Hope Browne
Landscape Architect
Hope Browne
Landscape Architect
Hope is a recent Landscape Architect graduate from the University of Gloucestershire, who joined Portus + Whitton in 2021. Since starting Hope has continued to develop her skills from university and has expanded her knowledge, technical ability and design skills . She has been involved with a variety of projects, including the design of numerous private gardens within the Cotswolds and the development of a proposed housing scheme close to Cirencester. Hope is rapidly gaining experience from working closely with the rest of the team, helping to produce masterplans, the creation of visuals and sections, construction details, developing planting schedules and specification, as well as report writing. She looks forward to her ongoing development at Portus and Whitton.
Claire Armitage
Landscape Architect
Claire Armitage
Landscape Architect
Trudy Compton
Business Support Manager
Trudy Compton
Business Support Manager
Trudy has a background in Human Resources and has worked in several roles in the public and private sector. She is experienced in supporting front line business. Trudy provides the administration and management support to the business and the team of professional Landscape Architects.