OLIVER HEATH

Oliver studied architecture at Oxford Brookes University in 1992, and went onto graduate with distinction in his post graduate studies from the Bartlett school of Architecture at University College London in 1995. He then worked in set design and interactive exhibition design, working on prestigious projects such as the Virgin Atlantic HQ, and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, designing concepts, spaces, working on site and even directing the films and audio visual features for the spaces.

In 1998 he set up his first design practice, Blustin Heath Design - www.blustinheathdesign.com, to specialise in environmentally sustainable architecture and eco interiors. They have completed a number of design projects for clients including Barratt Homes and ING Real Estate, private clients and exhibition spaces for the likes of WRAP, Kohler and Islington Council.

Oliver's first TV appearance was when he won BBC Homefront's Young Designer of the Year competition in 1998. Subsequently, his media career has expanded and Oliver is perhaps best known for his work as one of the main presenters and designers on BBC's Changing Rooms, where he was keen to promote the reuse and recycle aspects of good eco design principles.

His most recent television series for ITV, Dream Homes, picked up on his architectural education, as he followed families all over the UK designing and building their dream homes; observing the process and looking at the design precedents and inspiration behind their creations.

Oliver has written 3 books, The Home Book, Front Of House and most recently Urban Eco Chic, his writing regularly appears in broadsheets and magazines, such as The Observer and House Beautiful magazine. For a full media profile, please see the TV & Media section of the website.

As well as building a successful media profile, Oliver has also brought out a range of natural paints called the Eco Chic range for Earthborn paints, www.earthbornpaints.co.uk, and designed a wide range of products - see Green Product Design.

Oliver has acted as an eco speaker and campaign spokesperson for various environmental groups such as the Energy Savings Trust, the Waste Recycle Action Program (WRAP) and has written on design issues for Friends of the Earth. He also speaks regularly at a variety of design shows on the state of the Eco design Culture in the UK - including EcoBuild, Grand Designs, the Ideal Home Show, The Good Home Show and 100% Design. Full details are available in Eco Consultancy.

Oliver describes his style as Urban Eco Chic - which he has written about in his most recent book (of the same title) and that he has made accessible his on line eco store, EcoCentric - www.ecocentric.co.uk which he set up in 2005. He loves travel, windsurfing (for which he was a qualified RYA instructor) scuba diving, skiing and swimming, but has given up the fire eating, which was getting a little too dangerous. He lives in Brighton with his wife and children.