Introducing Spark & Bell
Brighton-based studio, Spark & Bell, is pioneering a new era of sustainable lighting, combining community focused craftsmanship with quality and responsible materials in its contemporary design pieces.
Established in Brighton in 2015, Spark & Bell is a custom handmade lighting business committed to bringing high-quality, bespoke lighting directly to consumers and interior designers. Founded by Emer Gillespie, a former fine arts photographer and lecturer, the company was started out of personal desire for original lighting options and a simple yet ambitious vision: to combine exceptional local craftsmanship and ethical practices into a sustainable family-run business.
Emer Gillespie, Director and Designer at Spark & Bell
From the beginning, Spark & Bell established a distinct aesthetic of contemporary designs that reference Art Deco and mid-century elegance, and which emphasise the intrinsic beauty in materials like brass, reeded glass, wood and ceramics.
Image credit Guy Lockwood Photography Reeded Glass Pendant Light from £168 and Arc Wall Light Charcoal from £115
The range has expanded to include a wide selection of decorative interior wall lights, pendants, chandeliers, ceiling lights, table lamps and recently, IP44 rated bathroom lights. All are customisable directly through the studio’s website within a lead time of just one to two weeks.
With the handmade to order nature of its lighting, Spark & Bell also collaborates with trade and retail customers on one-off pieces, developing bespoke lights for residential and commercial interiors. – Spark & Bell’s unique sustainable approach and the quality of its craft has seen it make a name for itself as a highly respected design studio with a history of high-calibre commissions.
Solas Table Lamp Pink Plaster from £208
As Spark & Bell’s business has grown, so too has its reputation for excellence and environmental and social responsibility. Championing circular design principles in daily practice, Spark & Bell supports domestic suppliers (as of 2024, 88% of its suppliers are from within a 200-mile radius) and collaborates with local artisans working in wood, ceramics, cork and jesmonite.
It has also taken to developing materials from sources headed for landfill – its Jewel series uses recycled plastics made in-house from salvaged CD cases. This appreciation for local heritage craft and dedication to sustainability is resonating with a growing customer base that values both environmental responsibility and unique aesthetics.
Recycled Plastics Collection
In recognition of a steadfast commitment to ethical practices and corporate responsibility, Spark & Bell has received B Corp™ certification with a score of 100.6. Highly impressive for a company undergoing its first assessment under the internationally recognised standard of social and environmental responsibility.
Emer Gillespie continues to lead the company, now supported by her husband Brad Guin, who brings with him 20 years of digital marketing and strategic commercial experience. Together they are fostering a culture of innovation, responsibility and creativity, leading a team of 10 in their Brighton studio. Spark & Bell remains dedicated to Emer’s original mission of creating beautiful, timeless lighting that’s built to last a lifetime.