A lighting design company rooted in British craft
Grafton Bell exists to reawaken the emotional power of design, a lighting design company rooted in British craft and artistic intent, crafting sculptural forms that speak through feeling, not excess. At Grafton Bell, we create enduring objects of clarity for those who live with depth, not display.
Architectural Lighting Designers Defined By Industrial Heritage
Grafton Bell is a UK lighting design company defined by its commitment to craft, form, and artistic intent. Born from ambition and shaped by the hands-on process of designer Tom Bell, Grafton Bell offers a distinctive alternative to the function-driven architectural lighting landscape.
Rooted in empathy for materials and manufacturing, every piece of architectural lighting is expertly made in the UK, avoiding mass-market trends in favour of deeply considered, emotionally resonant objects. These are not simply lights, but sculptural forms designed to elicit feeling.
“Grafton Bell is more than a lighting brand. It is a statement in form, a return to beauty, and a new voice in British design.”
- Tom Bell, Founder, Grafton Bell
Our Lighting Design Company Philosophy
At the core of it:
Grafton Bell products are minimalist in decoration but rich in shape and presence. As a lighting design company in the UK, our work is influenced by mid-century modernism and space-age design, each piece stripped back to its purest silhouette. Materials are chosen for their integrity: brass, aluminium, chrome, and plain white glass. Visual noise is avoided in favour of clarity, symmetry, and restraint.
The ambition is not only to craft beautiful objects, but to build a coherent and iconic design language that becomes synonymous with the name Grafton Bell, and recognised as a benchmark of exceptional British lighting design.
Every piece is:
• Conscientiously designed – considered from concept through to production
• Emotionally resonant – designed to elicit feeling, not just perform a task
• Visually clean – no visual noise, no extraneous detailing
• Sculptural – beautiful forms, rooted in mid-century references
Stylistic influences:
• Mid-century modern
• Beauty over utility
• Restrained materials palette: brass, aluminium, chrome, plain white glass
• Colour and texture references: teakwood, concrete, natural hardwood
Our UK Lighting Design Workshop
Grafton Bell stands proudly in Birmingham, a city long celebrated as the "workshop of the world." Our workshop is rooted in the city's rich industrial heritage, where foundries, metalworkers, and craftsmen once fuelled the beating heart of British manufacturing. Birmingham's legacy of skill, innovation, and design excellence is carried forward in everything we make, each piece carefully crafted by our architectural lighting designers as a testament to the endurance of craft in a city defined by making.
Every light that leaves our workshop is made by hand, embracing the imperfections and individuality that only true craftsmanship can deliver. This commitment to making, rather than merely producing, ensures that no two pieces are ever quite the same and each one bears the hallmarks of patience, precision, and the human touch.
At the heart of the Grafton Bell workshop is a skilled team whose experience spans traditional metalworking, finishing, and contemporary design practices. These craftsmen and women are more than employees; they are custodians of a heritage of making that Birmingham has fostered for centuries. Their expertise, honed over years of dedicated work, ensures that every piece leaving our doors is not just functional, but enduring, characterful, and worthy of its industrial lineage. As architectural lighting designers based in the UK, we carry that tradition forward, bringing the skill of Birmingham's makers to considered interiors across the country and beyond.
The Cupolla Collection
Mid-century elegance meets modern precision. A hand-spun crown pairs with a smooth opal glass shade for a refined, balanced silhouette. The opal diffuser casts a warm, even glow, complemented by a cool satin nickel finish. Made in the UK for lasting quality and timeless style.
FROM £1,650 EX VAT
Mid-century elegance meets modern precision. A hand-spun crown pairs with a smooth opal glass shade for a refined,balanced silhouette. The opal diffuser casts a warm, even glow, complemented by a cool satin nickel finish. Made in the UK for lasting quality and timeless style.
This product is made to order. Lead times are estimated at 8—12 Weeks.
FROM £1,855 EX VAT
Mid-century elegance meets modern precision. A hand-spun crown pairs with a smooth opal glass shade for a refined, balanced silhouette. The opal diffuser casts a warm, even glow, complemented by a cool satin nickel finish. Made in the UK for lasting quality and timeless style.
This product is made to order. Lead times are estimated at 8—12 Weeks.
FROM £875 EX VAT
Mid-century elegance meets modern precision. A hand-spun crown pairs with a smooth opal glass shade for a refined, balanced silhouette. The opal diffuser casts a warm, even glow, complemented by a cool satin nickel finish. Made in the UK for lasting quality and timeless style.
This product is made to order. Lead times are estimated at 8—12 Weeks.