ROSE Garrard is a well-known artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited at the Tate, Serpentine and Hayward Galleries as well as abroad.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s she created several iconic new spring water features in and around Malvern, including the Malvhina and Enigma fountains on Belle Vue Island.

Rose is also a founder-member and was chair of Malvern Spa Association (the MSA) and the author of several fascinating books about the town and its spring water history.

One of my favourites is A Malvern Treasury: An Illustrated History of Its People and Places, Troubles and Treasures, in Fact and Fable (you can find this and other books by Rose at the publishers Aspect Design in Newtown Road, Malvern).

It was written in 2010 while Rose was still in Malvern.

Fifteen years previously she had moved her home and studio from London back to the Hills where she was raised and which she loved. Today she lives in Cornwall.

Much of Rose’s art is informed by extensive research and public consultation and her Malvern water features were no exception.

Those who remember her from that time will know that she is not only an excellent conversationalist but also a great listener — her natural curiosity and enthusiasm for a diverse range of subjects is expressed in her art.

In 1996, as part of its plans for the town’s regeneration, Malvern Hills District Council launched the Malvern Spa Water Strategy.

Its aims included promoting knowledge of Malvern spring water, restoring and protecting spring water features and establishing sites for new spring water features in the town centre.

The Malvern Gazette published the story and asked people to write in with ideas.

Rose was one of the first to respond, proposing the creation of the Malvern Spring Water Arts Project to include a ‘Malvern Water Trail’ comprising new sculptures by local and nationally-known sculptors at ‘lost’ spring sites throughout the town.

She was invited to present her plans, they were accepted and subsequently she became a member of the group which went on to become the MSA.

In 1997, following public consultation, the council commissioned Rose to create two new spring water features in Great Malvern on Belle Vue Island which was in the process of being transformed from an ugly, inaccessible edifice to an attractive, usable public space.

The first was Malvhina — a public spring water drinking spout. As far as we are aware, there had never been one in the town.

The second was the Enigma Fountain, designed to celebrate the millennium and the works of renowned Malvern-based composer Sir Edward Elgar.

In addition, Rose was asked to help with the bus shelter restoration project in Barnards Green where she designed the ‘Hand of Peace’ sculpture.

Unfortunately, due to council reorganisation and lack of funding, the project had to be abandoned and no restoration of existing water features was carried out.

However, soon afterwards, the MSA embarked on a bid for Heritage Lottery funding which was prepared by the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit as part of a larger ‘Malvern Heritage Project’ for cattle-grazing on the hills.

The bid took several years to develop but was successful and, although the majority of the spring water part of the grant was for restoration, there was also scope to include modern art and sculpture in the works.

One of the most high-profile restoration projects funded by the Heritage Lottery was the North Malvern Clock Tower.

Rose also produced restoration plans for Lord Sandys’ Spout on Spring Lane, designed a pilgrim water flask for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and made a new bifurcating spout at Hayslad on West Malvern Road.

In fact, throughout her time here, she worked tirelessly to fulfil the MSA’s aims which are ‘with the community to protect, enhance and promote knowledge of Malvern’s natural and cultural spring water heritage’.

Rose was greatly missed when she moved to Cornwall a few years ago but we’re so grateful for the wonderful legacy that she left.

In the next couple of articles, we’ll tell you more about the water features she created and the stories behind them.

Our columnist Carly Tinkler is the president of the Malvern Spa Association (MSA).