WINNER LIGHTING BERT FRANK

This London duo’s work caught our eye for its mix of mid-century and industrial styles

A chance meeting between Robbie Llewellyn and Adam Yeats on a lighting job three years ago led to the formation of Bert Frank. At the time Llewellyn was working at London lighting shop Hector Finch. ‘At university, I wasn’t that interested in lighting, but at Hector Finch I fell in love with the mid-century, rustic industrial style,’ he says.

Yeats has a Birmingham factory that produces high-end metalwork. ‘I showed Adam some designs I had and we decided to work together.’ The result was the ‘Shear’ desk lamp, the company’s first product – now there are four collections. ‘ We’re taking inspiration from the 1950s but making the lights our own way,’ adds Llewellyn.

The latest pieces include the ‘Stasis’ table lamp with a copper shade; the ‘Messina’ wall light, which has an opal-glass drum; and a supersized pendant version of the ‘Shear’ light – the original ‘Shear’ table light is pictured above, third from left. The brand also makes bespoke lights to order and has plans to branch out into other products soon.

‘ We might make a hat rack; I can’t find anything I like!’ says Llewellyn. ‘That’s always how we’ve approached lighting: we make what we like.’ How do they feel about winning an ELLE Decoration British Design Award? ‘Surprised and honoured. If you’re going to win an award, there aren’t many better.’(@bertfranklights; bertfrank.co.uk).

ED