bernard trainor + associates

What bernard trainor + associates does

Bernard Trainor + Associates is the integrated creative practice of Bernard Trainor, an Australian-born landscape designer and multidisciplinary artist based on the Central Coast of California. The business operates through two interlocking arms: a personal fine art practice producing original paintings, sculptures, and installations exploring abstracted coastal landscapes, and Ground Studio, the landscape architecture firm Trainor founded in 1995 that designs contextual California landscapes ranging from compact urban gardens to expansive rural estates. The art practice is sold directly from SAND GARDEN, an appointment-based studio and exhibit space on the Monterey Peninsula, and through a curated set of California gallery and hospitality partners including Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur), Woods + Dangaran (Los Angeles), Cella (Monterey), Whitney Modern Gallery (Los Gatos), and Front Space by Anacapa Architecture (Santa Barbara). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; sales are handled on a per-inquiry basis via phone (831-601-5252) and email ([email protected]), with shipping charged to the buyer.

The underlying craft is built on 35+ years of landscape design experience and 50+ years of immersion in coastal environments of Australia and California. The work is positioned around the concept of 'abstracted memory' — paintings and sculptures that distill regional pattern language, eco-types, colors, textures, and light into abstracted forms on large canvas and board. Trainor's practice is deeply tied to his physical environment: the studio sits inside his personal garden, and what he observes outside directly informs what he creates inside. Two monographs — Landprints (2013) and Bernard Trainor: Ground Studio Landscapes (2019), both with Princeton Architectural Press — provide documentary and reputational support. Ground Studio has been recognized with a California Home and Design Landscape Design Award, and Trainor has been featured in Architectural Digest, Dwell, Gardens Illustrated, C Magazine, Häuser, Riv, and Abitare, plus appearances on the Haven podcast, Cultivating Place, and 33Sixty.

The business model is a hybrid of one-time fine art sales and professional services fees, with minor publishing royalties. There is no formal legal entity identified in the source material; the practice appears to be a sole proprietorship or unincorporated individual operation with no institutional investors, funding rounds, parent company, or subsidiaries. Distribution is regional (California) with a parallel landscape practice co-founded in Sydney (Secret Gardens, with Matthew Cantwell). Customer segments split between individual art collectors acquiring work through gallery and studio channels, and California property owners commissioning landscape architecture via Ground Studio. Marketing runs through gallery exhibitions, Instagram (@BERNARDTRAINOR), design publication coverage, podcast and speaking appearances, and an email newsletter.

Name

bernard trainor + associates

Legal name

Bernard Trainor

Website

https://bernardtrainor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bernard Trainor + Associates is the integrated solo practice of Australian-born artist and landscape architect Bernard Trainor, producing fine art (paintings, sculptures, installations) and landscape design services via Ground Studio for California clients and collectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fine Art Sales: Sale of original paintings and sculptures through studio exhibitions, gallery partners, and direct sales. Art is sold directly from the SAND GARDEN studio on Monterey Peninsula and through various exhibition spaces throughout California.
2. Landscape Design Services (via Ground Studio): Landscape architecture services through Ground Studio, the firm Bernard Trainor co-founded. Projects range from compact urban gardens to expansive rural sites throughout California.
3. Publishing Royalties: Two monographs published by Princeton Architectural Press: Landprints (2013) and Bernard Trainor: Ground Studio Landscapes (2019).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bernard Trainor + Associates is the multidisciplinary solo practice of artist and landscape designer Bernard Trainor, producing and selling original paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media installations through a Monterey Peninsula studio and California gallery partners. Landscape architecture services are delivered through Ground Studio, the firm Trainor founded in 1995, providing contextual California garden and site design for residential and commercial clients ranging from compact urban gardens to expansive rural estates.

Product overview

Bernard Trainor operates an integrated creative practice combining fine art and landscape architecture. The core offerings include original paintings, sculptures, and installations sold through the studio and California galleries, alongside Ground Studio, the landscape architecture firm he founded. His artistic work spans multiple ongoing series (ABSORB, EMERGE, I AM CALIFORNIA, Topology, Scorch, Scar, Bleached, Plastic) exploring landscape abstraction. Ground Studio designs contextual California landscapes ranging from urban gardens to rural estates. The studio also publishes monographs documenting the landscape work (Landprints 2013, Ground Studio Landscapes 2019) and maintains exhibit spaces including Sand Garden on the Monterey Peninsula. Art is available through the studio, various California galleries (Post Ranch Inn, Whitney Modern Gallery, Woods + Dangaran), and exhibitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ground Studio: A team of artists and designers working together to envision and craft contextual California landscapes. They thoughtfully balance the character of the land, the identity of the architecture, and the lifestyles of people who live there. Designing in a range of scales from compact urban gardens to expansive rural sites, their designs inspire a deep connection with the land.

Products and services

• Bernard Trainor Fine Art Original paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media artworks exploring abstracted representations of California and Australian coastal landscapes, sold directly through the SAND GARDEN studio on the Monterey Peninsula and through California gallery partners. Intended for individual art collectors, design professionals, and institutions.
• Ground Studio Landscape Architecture Contextual California landscape architecture for residential and commercial properties, ranging from compact urban gardens to expansive rural sites, designed to balance the character of the land, the identity of the architecture, and the lifestyle of the inhabitants.
• Landprints Monograph Published book (2013, Princeton Architectural Press) featuring ten of Ground Studio's most ambitious landscape designs with photography and critical analysis by Susan Heeger. Sold through retail book channels.
• Ground Studio Landscapes Monograph Published book (2019, Princeton Architectural Press) celebrating the wild and elemental landscapes of California created by Bernard Trainor and Ground Studio. Sold through retail book channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Work exhibited in galleries throughout California including Post Ranch Inn, Woods + Dangaran, Cella, Whitney Modern Gallery

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• Ground StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGround Studio is the landscape architecture firm founded by Bernard Trainor. It is described as 'a team of artists and designers working together to envision and craft contextual California landscapes.' Trainor serves as founding principal and design director. The studio has been featured in leading design publications and recognized for innovative environmental artistry.
• Princeton Architectural PressnotableOthersPublisher of two monographs on Bernard Trainor's work: 'Landprints' (2013) and 'Bernard Trainor: Ground Studio Landscapes' (2019). These publications have brought significant recognition to the practice.
• Secret Gardens SydneynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney-based landscape design studio co-founded by Bernard Trainor thirty years ago. Recognized as one of Australia's most influential voices in residential landscape design. Featured in conversation between Bernard Trainor and Creative Director Matthew Cantwell.
• Post Ranch InnnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury inn above the cliffs of Big Sur where Bernard Trainor exhibits his paintings. The architecture is embedded into the Santa Lucia Range landscape.
• Woods + DangarannotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLos Angeles gallery hosting solo exhibition 'Crevice' exploring intersection of natural and human-built systems. Published exhibit catalog.
• CellacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMonterey restaurant and event space that has hosted multiple solo exhibitions: 'I AM CALIFORNIA' (2022), 'EMERGE' (2023), and upcoming 2026 exhibition. Ben Spungin is founding partner/chef. Space features repurposed adobe buildings and gardens.
• Whitney Modern GalleryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGallery in Los Gatos, California where Bernard Trainor's art has been available.
• Field ArchitecturenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalo Alto-based architecture firm led by Jess Field. Moderated conversation about Bernard Trainor's work at 33Sixty event. Known for designing buildings in close conversation with the land.
• Anacapa Architecture / Front SpaceChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGallery in Santa Barbara, CA (1023 State Street) hosting 'ABSORB' exhibition 8.29.26 - 10.15.26. Open by appointment Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bernardtrainor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about bernard trainor + associates