The Boys Who Sew photographed at their stunning Gloucestershire barn in the grounds of Berkeley Castle.
The Boys Who Sew Feature in The Sunday Times – Photography by Matt Priestley
I'm delighted to see The Boys Who Sew featured in The Sunday Times on 25th October 2026, with one of my photographs helping to illustrate their fascinating story.
Based at the beautiful Berkeley Castle Estate in Gloucestershire, The Boys Who Sew, founded by Ryan Whittaker and Peter Eastwood, have built a remarkable reputation for producing exceptional bespoke curtains, blinds and luxury soft furnishings for some of the UK's most prestigious homes and interior designers.
It's a brilliant British business success story, combining traditional craftsmanship, entrepreneurial ambition and an infectious enthusiasm for beautiful interiors.
From a garden shed to the pages of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times article, titled Our biggest order? £900,000 for 50 pairs of curtains, tells the story of how Ryan and Peter developed their business from relatively modest beginnings into a highly regarded specialist soft furnishings company.
Their journey has involved determination, considerable resilience and a commitment to preserving traditional curtain-making skills. Today, their talented team produces beautifully crafted curtains, blinds and other bespoke interior furnishings for prestigious residential and commercial projects.
Working from their Gloucestershire workshop on the Berkeley Castle Estate, they combine traditional hand-finishing techniques with an understanding of contemporary interior design. Their work takes them well beyond Gloucestershire, serving leading interior designers and clients across London and the UK.
It's exactly the sort of entrepreneurial story that deserves national recognition.
Professional photography that tells a business story
As a professional commercial and editorial photographer, I particularly enjoy working with businesses that have a strong identity, interesting people and a genuine story to tell.
Photographing the people behind a business is about much more than simply producing a good portrait. It's about capturing personality, confidence and the character that makes a company distinctive.
My approach to business photography is relaxed and collaborative. I aim to put people at ease, establish a rapport and create natural, engaging photographs that communicate something meaningful about the individual and the business.
Whether photographs are intended for a company website, an editorial feature, a magazine article, PR campaign, marketing material or social media, good photography plays an important role in communicating a brand's identity.
Seeing my photography used in The Sunday Times is particularly rewarding and a wonderful example of how professional business photography can find a life beyond its original purpose.
Commercial, editorial and business photography across the UK
I provide professional commercial photography for businesses, organisations, entrepreneurs and publications, working throughout Manchester, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, the North West and across the UK.
My commissions include:
Corporate and executive portraits
Business headshots and personal branding photography
Editorial and magazine photography
Commercial and industrial photography
Photography for interiors, design and manufacturing businesses
PR, publicity and promotional photography
Corporate events and conferences
Website and marketing photography
Whether you're an established company looking to refresh your corporate image, an entrepreneur building a brand or a publication requiring engaging editorial photography, I provide a professional and personable service tailored to the brief.
Looking for a commercial photographer in Manchester, Cheshire or elsewhere in the UK?
I'd be delighted to discuss your next photography commission.
Matt Priestley – Professional Commercial & Editorial Photographer