Charles & Patricia Lester of Abergavenny, have an international reputation for their unique work in fashion, interior textiles, and costume for films and Opera.

There are no distinct boundaries in the talents and interests of Charles and Patricia Lester. Over the last 50 years of their marriage and their business life, Charles and Patricia have carved their own path, mapping out their own unique journey of creativity, invention and innovation. Untrained and self-taught, their original fashion and textiles have been the primary vehicle through which they have consistently pursued excellence in both their artistry and their business acumen.

Charles and Patricia’s story is unique, their successes exemplary, and their art inspirational. Their creations are rare having never been mass-produced. Each piece is carefully hand-crafted in their studios in Wales by a select team with well-honed skills. Their art pieces are created using techniques which have been invented and evolved by Charles and Patricia themselves. As such, their work is collected by museums and galleries around the world, including the V&A and the Ohio State Institute.

Colours and textures in the world around them form a central part to all that inspires them to produce work that they do. Observations of the subtle nuances in tone and touch enable them to create unusual pieces that are sensual both to feel and see. They have a huge library of photographic work, which forms the basis of how their designs and techniques evolve. They have always pursued a level of excellence, constantly refining techniques and methodologies to ensure that the quality of workmanship continually surpasses itself. They work independently and are purposely unfollowers of fashion so that they retain a high standard of design and craftsmanship.