I was born in rural Kent in 1964. The son of one of Hatton Garden’s last traditional hand engravers, I learnt at an early age from my creative father all about renovating old houses, helping out on the carefully converted farmers cottages where I grew up. I was also inspired artistically by my mother, who studied fine art at the Royal Academy of Arts.

After a brief alternative “progressive” education in Scotland, I studied technical drawing at High School and trained in broad based mechanical engineering for the Oil Industry until 1982.

Following the oil crisis I became self-employed and by 1986 was designing and building bespoke furniture for London renovation projects.

Recycled timber, metalwork and objects from French brocante during European travels throughout the 90’s featured in my work, also influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement.

The efficient use of small spaces became another one of my specialities; after converting an american trailer home for off-road self-sufficient living, my “tardis” studio flat was featured in the Independante on Sunday Magazine:

Towards the end of the millennium, inspired by London’s thriving design scene, I became interested in creating consumer products which culminated in my emigrating to Sao Paulo in 1999, where I founded the Brazilian lighting design and manufacturing  trade mark, SOLAR* which has thrived for nearly two decades as the only lava-lamp manufacturer in South America.

Many recycled and up-cycled materials are used in the signed collection of hand made and ecologically correct lighting shown on this web site and still available through the e-commerce outlet, www.solar.net.br

As well as winning various design awards in Brazil, I was also an elected comunity representive on our local sustained development council for 2 mandates :

Since 2018, I am living in the the mountains of Corrèze, Françe making things out of local wood and, of course, some interesting lighting projects!

Have a look at Tom Greens work