Timorous Beasties

A design company based in Glasgow Scotland, specialising in interior products. The studio was started by Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons and established in 1990 after the pair met at Glasgow School of Art in the mid 80s. Timorous Beasties have had continued and consistent success, recently being shortlisted for Designer of The Year 2004. In addition to winning the Editors Award at the ICFF for Best Wall Coverings in 2003 and 2001, and for Best Fabric in 1998. Timorous Beasties also won a Millennium Product Award for their laminates. Their early work has been described as "William Morris on acid", and as a wayward take on the often ‘twee’ world of textiles, with heavily illustrative insects, triffid-like plants and large-scale fish swirl in intricate patterns and repeats that adorn rich and heavy fabrics. Their more recent work is as graphic and modern as it is varied, with designs ranging from target and arrow motifs to large 3D damasks. Timorous Beasties studio mixes design and production under one roof allowing them a free reign to develop their unique style, their fabrics have caught the eye of museum collections such as the V&A (London), Cooper Hewitt Museum (New York), and the GOMA (Scotland).