Every design begins with a story - meet the people who bring it to life.

Geoffrey Bennison (1921-1984)

Geoffrey Bennison is regarded as one of England’s most influential interior designers, known for his theatrical sensibility and masterful layering of antique textiles with his own fabrics. Defying conventional notions of style, he created atmospheric interiors for a discerning clientele, blending scale, pattern, and colour in inventive shades such as the evocative Red Riding Hood Red and Prussian Blue. From his early days at the Slade School of Art, a background in antique dealing during the swinging sixties, and his later career as interior designer, Geoffrey earned a reputation for sophisticated originality.

Though initially known only to the cognoscenti of the decorating world, Bennison’s influence and fame steadily grew. He is now known as one of the greatest interior designers of the twentieth century. His legacy continues not only through his interiors, but through the fabrics that bear his name, which remain synonymous with timeless style.

Geoffrey Bennison: Master Decorator is a monograph by Gillian Newberry celebrating the life and legacy of the influential designer. Featuring evocative photographs of all the interiors he created, the book offers a worthy tribute to his life’s work.

Gilly Newberry
Founder

Gilly Newberry met Geoffrey Bennison through mutual friends at a time when his reputation as a decorator was on the rise. With design commissions increasing, Geoffrey needed support in his London shop, and Gilly drawing on her experience as a fashion editor with British Vogue and managing David Bailey’s photographic studio, brought with her the creative and organisational skills needed to assist him. She began working with him in 1979, marking the beginning of an enduring friendship and a successful creative partnership.

In 1985, following Geoffrey Bennison’s untimely passing, Gilly and her husband Geoff founded Bennison Fabrics. What began with a select range of prints evolved under Gilly’s guidance into an independent international label, renowned for its exquisite textiles. Supported by a team of like-minded, highly skilled and dedicated creatives who shared her vision, Gilly expanded the collection and established showrooms in the United States with Geoff. The New York location continues to thrive and is a testament to the enduring appeal of the fabrics.

While honouring Geoffrey Bennison’s legacy is a fundamental tenet, it is Gilly’s influence and vision that has guided the evolution of Bennison Fabrics, shaping it into being a standard-bearer in world of interiors.

Geoff Newberry
Founder

Geoff Newberry had a natural eye for beauty and a longstanding passion for antiques. He began trading at London’s Portobello Market, where his infant son Jack was often found in a cradle beneath the stall, before moving to Pimlico Road. His design sensibility extended beyond objects to the spaces he inhabited, shaping homes in Norfolk, London, Mallorca, Los Angeles, and New York - each one featuring Bennison fabrics in ways both subtle and striking.

It was this insight that inspired Gillian Newberry to bring Bennison to Los Angeles and New York, continuing a legacy rooted in timeless design.

Alex and Deb MacIntyre
Designers / Producers

After graduating in textile design from the Royal College of Art, Alex set up a business and print works in partnership with Zandra Rhodes. He was approached by Geoffrey Bennison to work from and reproduce a selection of old textile documents that had been collected over the years; and was also asked to create original designs for a house Geoffrey was decorating in Marrakesh.

His initial collaborations with Geoffrey followed by his work with Gilly, evolved into one of the most important contemporary collections of printed linens. Much of the work was drawn from old documents, which in some cases were incomplete. Alex skilfully reconstructs these ensuring the final design remains seamless and true to its original state. New designs are created from scratch; meticulously hand drawn and transferred to screens. Working with Deb and a small, dedicated team Alex has produced over three hundred stunning designs for Bennison, some of which are also printed on silks and paper.

Meanwhile, with a background in fashion and textile design, Deb started her career designing ‘Works of Art’ knitwear for the iconic designer Zandra Rhodes. She went on to produce her own successful collection, before partnering with Alex in his collaborations with Geoffrey Bennison and Gilly Newberry. Joining Alex initially at the drawing board, she moved on to specialise in recolouring designs and creating bespoke colour variations for clients. She also oversees the production, working closely with the exceptional family-run print works where all the printing is done.

Alex and Deb along with the rest of the ‘Bennison family’ are dedicated to creating and producing designs with colours that will live on for generations.

Holly Newberry
Director

With her art college background and talent for photography, Holly supports the London showroom with PR and marketing for Bennison Fabrics.

Married to Tommy Gledhill, she plays a key role in shaping the company’s aesthetic direction.