Jonathan is an RIBA-qualified architect, educated at the University of Bath and the University of Edinburgh, and a certified Passivhaus Designer. Raised in the Cotswolds, he has worked locally across both construction and design, developing a strong understanding of the region’s building traditions, planning sensitivities, and landscape character. Before founding Shen Carter Studio, he worked as a stonemason and in the wider construction industry, gaining hands-on knowledge of materials, detailing, and site practice. This craft background continues to shape his approach, with a focus on proportion, material honesty, and well-resolved construction.

As co-founder and principal architect, Jonathan oversees projects from initial consultation through design, planning, technical delivery, and completion on site. He guides clients clearly through each stage, placing emphasis on thoughtful design, low-embodied-energy materials, and passive environmental principles. His work seeks to create architecture that is carefully made, responsive to its setting, and grounded in a deep understanding of place.

Yanli is an international landscape designer and artist whose work bridges spatial design, art, and cultural understanding. After professional experience in Beijing, she moved to the UK to continue her studies, graduating with First Class Honours in Interior Design from Sheffield Hallam University, followed by a Masters in Landscape Studies at the University of Sheffield. She later completed a Masters in Fine Art (Art, Space & Nature) at the University of Edinburgh, where she was awarded the student prize for the best portfolio in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Her interdisciplinary background informs a sensitive approach to shaping outdoor spaces, creating environments that feel calm, balanced, and closely connected to their surroundings.

As co-founder of Shen Carter Studio, Yanli leads landscape design and contributes to the creative direction of the practice, helping to develop holistic proposals that integrate landscape, architecture, interiors, and the experience of space. Her work is influenced by traditional Chinese philosophy, including feng shui principles, which guide her understanding of atmosphere, orientation, and harmony between people and place. Alongside design, she produces the studio’s visual material, including photography, film, graphics, and rendered imagery, supporting clear communication of ideas and the wider presentation of the practice.