Local Heroes: Leigh Bagley

Textile designer Leigh Bagley creates vibrant and dynamic wallpaper, murals and limited edition artworks for both commercial clients and the public. Following a career working as a freelance knitted textile designer, where Bagley sold designs to Calvin Klein, Levis, Nicole Farhi, and Woolmark, he now focuses on print. Blending traditional design methodologies with digital technology, Bagley creates distinctive surface patterns rich with geometric motifs and a masterful use of colour.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, the Birmingham native is now based in East Lothian and passes on his expertise to a new generation of designers in his role as lecturer at The Glasgow School of Art. In 2012 he launched The Graphic Pattern Studio to pursue his interest in abstract graphic print design. Through the studio, Bagley produced his first collection of limited edition prints and wallcoverings. His work was an instant success with leading architecture and interior design companies and is much sought-after by private clients.

In a world where neutrals dominate interiors, Bagley’s mural collections are a striking way to bring vivacity and dynamism into a space. Whether for a single wall or an entire room, the bold scale of pattern and confident use of colour add energy. The mural concept is new, and has developed from a collection Bagley designed for Newmor. Standard wallpaper rolls restrict the size and scale of a pattern and also dictate that the design must repeat. The mural concept overcomes these restrictions. Each mural panel is 70cm wide and 280cm long making it suitable for most interior ceiling heights. Designs can be constructed of six separate individual panels which can be hung in any order. Customers can purchase these in twos, depending on the width of their chosen wall.

“Clients looking to reinvent a space often opt for an adventurous approach and my new Calendar collection fits that bill perfectly. Since its launch six months ago, Calendar’s striking and distinctive patterns have been specified by interior designers for boutique hotels, bars, private homes and corporate spaces,” explains Bagley.

The Calendar collection is inspired by the work of iconic French product designer Jean-Pierre Vitrac. It explores imbroglio shapes which add rhythm and colour to interior spaces. Each design is based around a square tile format made up of eight individual shapes mirroring the lunar cycle and colour palettes that evoke the interior and product design of the Festival of Britain era.

“Vitrac’s iconic design aesthetics are echoed throughout this collection, playful shapes and sweeping curves are juxtaposed and offset by the tile format with architectural forms and repeating shapes throughout. The collection includes five chromatic families where neutral colour backgrounds sit among warmer, brighter shades. Within each of these families, there are four complementary palettes.”

Colour development is integral to Bagley’s creative process. The designer has always been interested in how people perceive colour and use it in their own environments. His prints explore interactions of colour through geometric composition, each one meticulously planned, every hue, proportion, saturation and opacity considered. Bagley’s limited edition prints are bought by collectors internationally and can be found in a range of private homes, corporate boardrooms and healthcare sectors.

“I am constantly looking for inspiration from shadows on a pavement, to the built environment or a skyline; I always have a camera with me to capture anything I see that later can become a resource.”

In the future Bagley would love to work on a design project or collaboration with Alessi or Marc Newson, while his design heroes are Charley Harper, Hella Jongerius, Dieter Rams Marimekko, Bridget Riley, and the Bouroullec brothers.

His work can be purchased directly from his online store or via platforms such as Saatchi Art, Rise Art, Artfinder and Dept.store

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leighbagley.com / @leighbagley on Instagram