The Story of British Colour Standard


The art/design team of Jackie Piper & Victoria Whitbread have a shared love of colour & material exploration. Discovering an old colour dictionary in an Oxfam shop began a journey to re-establish this long forgotten brand.
Pictured above, the original BCS colour HQ at No 13 Portman Square in London, demolished after the second World War.
A treasure trove of colour & rich history first established 1931. Out of use since the 1950’s, they acquired & accurately scanned original colour dictionaries. A digital colour reader established a profile for the many hundreds of colours created and logged in the 1930’s and these original colours & names are used in their current collections. Derived and inspired from nature, flora & fauna, as well as semi-precious stones & spices, the main collections include many historic & special Royal colours, designed and used for coronations & special events.
Aiming to be the go-to brand for colour in the home for paint & interior accessories as well as championing eco, sustainable & Fair Trade products within their collections. Established 1931, now 21st Century ready.
* Pictured above, the former BCS HQ in Portman Square, in the 1930's.