Venecia Grey

Fusing classic chintz with 1960s psychedelia, Michael Szell’s textiles are as exuberant, richly detailed and unapologetically bold as the designer's life. Arriving in London from Hungary in the post-war years, Szell studied at the Royal College of Art, quickly finding his métier in flamboyant colours, maximalist patterns and overisized motifs. The opening of his Chelsea showroom paved the way for an illustrious career in textile design, including a period as chief stylist at Harrods and multiple royal commissions – notably the Throne Room of Windsor Castle.