Step inside a mysterious world of sundials, sculptures and water features – Eaton Square gardens have been transformed

If you go down to the garden today you’ll find a Dark Planet, a Light Sorceress, a Chalice and a Torus. From 1 June until 21 September, contemporary artist David Harber is taking over Eaton Square gardens and transforming them into a mythical world of sundials, water features and garden sculptures.

David has been designing sundials for the past 20 years, before which his eclectic career path had led him from rock-climbing instructor to potter and owner of a travelling theatre on a barge. A man of many talents, his passion for design, art and astronomy has allowed him to combine sculptural art with precision engineering, and the results are stunning.

His work has an ethereal quality, bringing light, water and reflection into his pieces. David says: "I wanted to create a sculpture park that provided a sense of calm, but also somewhere that would lift the spirits of residents and allow them to interact with the sculptures."

For Eaton Square gardens he has selected a range of sculptures from his portfolio, one of which, the Mantle, was recently shortlisted by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for Product of the Year. Designed to mimic the Earth’s molten core, the gold leaf sphere shimmers and glows with natural light. "I want my sculptures to physically reflect the environment, or cause the onlooker to see his or her environment in a new light," says David. "It is important that each piece sits within the landscape and also has a resonance with it."

Head down to the garden and you’ll be greeted by a shimmering body of water. Created from masses of petals made of mirror-polished stainless steel, the abstract Petal Water Wall adds an element of movement to the garden. Elsewhere you’ll stumble across a Light Sorceress; created from fragmented pieces of metal, she is holding a sundial, reflecting the garden light. Nearby is the Dark Planet Fountain created from black puddle stones, which David describes as "a very tactile piece. Touch it, it feels like you’re stroking a rhino’s behind." Over in the pond sits the wonderful Chalice, lit from the inside and beneath. The water is spun into the void and overflows the edges.

David’s favourite piece, however, is the Torus, a spellbinding, perfectly formed elliptical portal that uses light and reflections. It draws the viewer in, showing them a distorted view of the surrounding landscape.

Go and see for yourself. Visit in the daytime when the light is bouncing off the sculptures, and turn the sundials to tell the time; or slip in at nighttime under the moonlight, spin the moondial and watch as the shadows jump around the garden.

For more information about David’s work, visit www.davidharber.com