A Life In Design: Bethan Gray

The celebrated homeware designer on pushing creative boundaries and fusing culture with craftsmanship

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It’s fair to say Welsh designer Bethan Gray stole the show during last September’s London Design Festival. Having founded her own brand in 2008, after a decade designing furniture for Habitat, last year was her moment to truly shine with her contemporary style rich in form, femininity and fine craftsmanship.

Drawing influences from global art and culture, Bethan not only unveiled new designs for her own furniture and lighting collections, but she also launched a range of furniture and home accessories with Anthropologie, a new tableware collection in collaboration with ceramics aficionado 1882Ltd, designed a bar (and limited-edition collector’s case) for The Glenlivet and a watch with Rado. Here, she shares her design inspirations…

When did the design bug first bite?

Growing up in Penylan, east of Cardiff, I was always into making things at school, such as candlesticks as gifts for friends. My Scottish forester grandfather was a huge inspiration, carving me little objects out of fallen wood and making me pieces of furniture. It also turns out my great-great-grandmother had been a trained cabinetmaker.

What was your big break?

Working at Habitat for 10 years taught me a lot. I travelled all over the world, visiting everything from small artisan workshops to large automated factories, but I soon realised I wanted to come up with my own style that was more feminine, using natural materials. Then I met my now husband, Massimo, who encouraged me to go out on my own.

What inspired your earliest pieces?