A chance meeting

Over 25 years ago I joined House & Garden as Features Editor, a job that introduced me to the hundreds of the many wonderful artists and craftsmen that this country produces. In so doing I ran across Magdalen Jebb, daughter of the much-esteemed architect Philip Jebb and no mean artist in her own right.

She had studied zoology at Wadham College, Oxford, where - since she was one of the few who owned a sewing machine - she had made costumes for the drama group. A stint in the Glyndebourne costume department was followed by setting up her own business in Shepherd’s Bush making bespoke pieces for discerning clients. In 2003 when we met, she had moved to the Cotswolds, in search of space and light, buying her house because “it had a double garage that could be turned into a studio.”

The magazine was running a monthly feature that paired someone who wanted to have a room in their house reconfigured with an architect or designer who would produce an illustrated drawing, along with costs of said room with quotes from both designer and ‘client.'

In this particular instance we had twinned the architect-designer Jane Taylor with Magdalen, who was known to the magazine through mutual contacts. We travelled down with the photographer to the Cotswolds and, once measurements had been taken, the wishes for the redesign had been discussed, and the photography completed, we sat down to lunch and talked.

I mentioned some fabrics she had produced during the shoot and was surprised to learn that they had been designed by Magdalen in a screen-printing evening class. I asked her if she’d ever shown them to anyone, and when she said "No" I said "Well that’s nonsense, I’m going to ring Stevie right now."

I had known Stephen Lewis and his wife Jane, for many years, having enjoyed joyful family holidays in the Scottish Highlands together. I did indeed call Stephen there and then and tentatively suggested it might be a good idea if they met.

As chance would have it, Stephen’s sister Philippa (Pip) who ran the excellent architectural archive, Edifice Collection, had also said she’d noticed Magdalen’s fabric on a cushion in a pilates class! Stephen said "I began to feel I was being bullied," so a meeting was arranged.
 

They shared the same vision for the company, and over the years of their collaboration the firm has grown, moving from basements in London to two floors of a Victorian mill in Woodchester near Stroud. As for Stevie, he said, "When you meet someone who is immensely talented and with a tremendous work ethic why would you be anything other than delighted."

Lewis & Wood were one of the first to adopt digital printing, presenting an enormous investment for the firm, and making it one of the few firms that designs and prints under the same roof. Digitalisation has also revolutionised the issue of unsold stock since they no longer have to stock printed fabric. Today every order is printed as it is ordered.

Production of both fabrics and wallpapers has increased out of all recognition. The company has a large and friendly showroom in Chelsea, always full of clients attracted by the range and the sensible costings. The pair have encouraged other artists to contribute to the range giving each one their own collection. Wallpapers, such as Adam’s Eden, decorate the nation’s walls, and more recently, amongst many other designs, they have introduced a charming folk themed wallpaper taken from the American Museum in Bath. This ability to produce small collections has been one of the great bonuses of their partnership and after several years, unsurprisingly, Magdalen was made a Director of Lewis & Wood.

The company’s ethos and agility have continued without interruption. It has been wonderful for me to watch the company grow and thrive through the collaboration of two highly motivated and clever individuals and of course, very satisfying to know that occasionally a small hunch pays off.