Peter Bowles

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One of the first designers to capture the appeal of industrial styling, Original BTC founder Peter Bowles’ relaxed, familiar lighting is inspired by a family history steeped in retail, manufacturing and design.

After learning the ropes at Minty, Bowles’ father launched iconic 1960s lighting retailer Cosmo Designs, employing 13-year-old Peter on his stand at the Harrogate Lighting Fair.

Childhood visits to his father’s manufacturing facilities opened Bowles’ eyes to the clean lines of traditional factory fittings and the versatility of mid-century style, while a stint working the machines at a French cutlery manufacturer ignited his passion in the "crash, bang, whallop of production." Returning to England, Bowles opened a Sheffield factory producing a million pieces of own-designed cookware a year. Challenged by the design limitations of cutlery, in 1990 Bowles went back to his roots with an Oxford-based lighting factory.