The Turrill Garden, at the rear of the Summertown Library, is one of Oxford’s best kept secrets. It’s a place for private reflection, which is why it makes a superb backdrop for original art works and sculptures.

Sculptor Christopher Townsend, who works mainly with mild steel, stainless steel, found metal objects, stone and wood, is showing his work there throughout April.

His works blend so well with the brick walls and vegetation in this lovely little garden, that some are hard to spot.

His Small Lily and Double Lily with a Twist, for example – both these works created in powder coated steel – stand proud among the spring flowers, adding an extra dimension to the bed in which they have been placed. From a distance they look as if they are just another Spring flower bursting into life.

Just behind these attractive pieces stands The Organic Wychwood, created from twisted steel.

This work has been placed against a weathered brick wall that highlights the beauty of the rusted steel tree, which is fixed to its own platform. It is a similar shape to his Wychwood Oak, in galvanised steel which stands close to the garden’s enchanting little water fountain. Because Wychwood Oak is mounted against a white background, the shadows cast by the afternoon sun bring the work to life as they continue to change and move.

His Fish Assembled (pictured) has been fixed to a wall too, but it casts less shadows.

Christopher’s pieces are influenced by the environment and location of his studio at Ascott-under-Wychwood, but he is strongly influenced by the sea and all things watery, too – hence the fish.

Other influences on his work include Tai chi and kick boxing. He says that kick-boxing helps him to understand balance within the human form – it also aids his concentration while he works. As the peaceful garden in which Christopher’s 12 works are placed encourages visitors to linger, it is the perfect place to spend a while