My London: Richard Quinn

The first designer to have the Queen on his front row tucks in to Blackbird Bakery tarts and loves the view from Peckham’s Telegraph Hill
Rii Schroer / eyevine
Lily Worcester7 June 2018

Home is…

I was born in Lewisham and grew up in Eltham. I live with my parents at the moment out in Greenhithe in Kent and I drive to my studio in Peckham every day.

Last play you saw?

The Book of Mormon (below) about a year ago. I really enjoyed it, the writers of South Park wrote it — it’s got a kind of dark humour.

Where do you work out?

Have you seen a picture of me? No I don’t work out. I would say running around the studios and getting my collections done is a workout enough.

Which shops do you rely on?

Empee Silk Fabrics in north London near Tottenham — it’s the go-to for one of our favourite fabrics — and Pret for my daily Swedish meatball wrap.

Where would you most like to be buried?

Underneath the Central Saint Martins print room.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day?

Cover the whole of London in my prints.

When did you know that the Queen would be attending your recent show?

I knew something was happening. I was told that there was going to be a VIP and then a few days before I was told it was the Queen (left, with Anna Wintour) and I was to receive an award. I just thought it was going to be someone really famous like another designer from London.

Getty Images

How does it feel now?

It’s kind of crazy and surreal but it’s really positive, it really puts me on the map. She’s so nice. I thought I was just going to go up, get a trophy then walk off — but no, she started speaking to me, she said she really liked the collection, in particular how nice the flowers and all the foils were. She’s really switched on.

Most iconic Londoner in history?

Naomi Campbell (left) — I think she embodies coming from nowhere and becoming something amazing. It would be a dream to have her walk in one of my shows.

What’s your London secret?

Telegraph Hill in Peckham; you can see the whole of London from there.

Favourite pub?

Beer Rebellion next to my studio. It’s a nice chilled place to go on a Friday after working all week. It has really good root beers.

Who is your hero?

My tutor at Central Saint Martins, Natalie Gibson. She was a really big print designer in the 1960s and 1970s and her sense of colours is bang on, and she’s a really nice lady. She taught me everything I know about print.

Where would you recommend for a first date?

Blackbird Bakery (above) in Peckham. It does the best coffee in London and a really nice mushroom tart.

What makes someone a Londoner?

Being resilient. I definitely think everyone in London is pretty tough.

What do you collect?

Vintage fabrics and garments, like dresses and jackets. I have hundreds in my parents’ attic and in the studio hanging up.

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