The Creative Entrepreneur - Laurence Llewelyn Bowen - February 2026

Feb, 1 2026

If you’re fortunate to have been around in the 1990’s you would have seen this distinguished gentleman appear on your television. Let us unlock the ‘changing room’ on this particular ‘Creative Entrepreneur’.

Laurence Roderick Bowen was born on 1965 in Kensington, London, to parents Trefor Llewellyn Bowen and Patricia ( nee Wilks).

He sadly lost his father when he was just nine years old to leukaemia in 1974. His dad was 42. Despite losing his father at a young age this didn’t prevent him from following his dreams with an interest at art at Primary School, especially needlework which carried on into adulthood. He lost his mother, a teacher in 2002. Laurence is of Welsh descent.

After Primary School he progressed through education and ultimately at the University of the Arts in London in 1986 with an unspecified Fine Art degree. Following this result Laurence worked for the Harefield Group of Companies and the interior design firm Peter Leonard Associates. In 1989 he started his own design consultancy.

Laurence made his big break in television with the interior design transformation show ‘Changing Rooms’ which made its debut on BBC Television in 1996 and ran till the end of 2004. Let’s remind ourselves of the catchy theme tune –

Laurence made the show an enjoyable watch both for his flamboyant character and charismatic appearance portrayed by his flowing locks and his legendary billowing punk meets restoration wardrobe. He was able to apply the skills he learnt at University to effectively transform homes thanks to the unswerving opulence of the rooms he created which catapulted him instantly to stardom.

Riding high on the back of Changing Rooms he received numerous requests to appear on other shows these included –

In search of England’s Green and Pleasant Land
Who do you think you are?
House Gift
Popstar to Operastar
Auction Party
Hidden Houses of Wales
DIY SOS –The Big Build
House Rules
Outrageous Homes with Laurence Llewelyn –Bowen
Celebrity Bear Hunt
Stepping Out

But it will always be his love of interior design that makes him a unique Creative Entrepreneur. Here he is on This Morning back in September 2023 explaining his creative pursuits –

His enthusiasm for art is contagious seeping out every vein in his body. He speaks with joy about the creative person he is and has become. For more information simply the following website link – https://www.myperfectart.co.uk/laurence-llewelyn-bowen

For 30 years we have seen him on our television screens providing a unique and creative flair to everything he does. His colleagues on Changing Rooms jokingly used to call him ‘Lord Laurence’ a play on Laurence Olivier and Llewelyn Bowen’s flamboyance. Appropriately titled given that he became 60 last year and remains one of media and arts most captivating personalities. You just experience an immediate joy when he enters the room, the changing room.

^Alex Ashworth CCG Content Creator