Case Studies > Organization:
Feir Mill

Avocado Communications was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Anne Roberts, a wonderful friend and talented artist.

Anne was the creative force behind Feir Mill's highly specialized design studio, an artist and designer with a myriad of skills. Her studio was renowned for its excellence in design and utilizing rich European design history - a part of Anne's heritage.

Anne Roberts came to Canada as a young bride, newly graduated with a Fine Arts degree in print making and book illustration. After teaching fashion design at the college level in Toronto, Ontario for seventeen years, lecturing in costume history at the Royal Ontario Museum and raising three children, she moved to the country.

Tucked away in a remote corner of the Kawarthas - and surrounded by the indigenous scrub, Anne Roberts and her team created summerhouses, pavilions, temples, gazebos and distinctive architectural pieces from freshly gathered eastern white cedar, hop horn beam and bog willow for gardens across North American and Europe.

Feir Mill Design received many important commissions which include The City of Toronto’ s Music Garden, conceived by Yo Yo Ma and designed by Julie Moir– Messervy. Anne created works for Bunny Williams, Jack Lenor Larsen and private clients in California, Tennessee, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, England, France and Italy.

Her customers included Woody Allen, Martha Stewart, Steve Jobs of Apple Computers and a royal residence in England.

Anne was the first off-shore artist featured in the prestigious British magazine, Gardens Illustrated, in 1995 soon after its inception. Her work was featured in many other magazines including Garden Design, Garden’ s Illustrated, Town and Country and more.

Anne became firmly established as one of the leading designers/makers in the rustic tradition.

Anne Roberts was an immensely talented and inspiring artist. She will be greatly missed.

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