Sophie Conran

Early life

Conran is the daughter of designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran and food writer Caroline Conran, the sister of fashion designer Jasper Conran, restaurateur Tom, artist Edmund and product designer Sebastian.

Career

After leaving school at 17, Conran worked as an apprentice for couture milliner Stephen Jones before joining the fashion team at the studio of her brother Jasper. Following this thorough immersion in the fashion world, Conran interior-designed apartments and show flats in the Butler's Wharf development and overhauled the Design Museum Shop's collections where she also acted as a buyer. At the same time, she worked as a buyer for The Conran Shop and eventually launched her own store 'Wong Singh Jones' (W11).

Aged 20, Conran bought her Bayswater flat, then a cluster of bed-sits, and then reunited the rooms, renovated. Shown to friends and family, private interior design commissions followed.

On returning to the United Kingdom, Conran worked for her father accessorising his restaurants whilst renovating a dilapidated farm in Devon, rearing pigs and growing vegetables. After a few years she returned to work for as a Colour Director and then as a Product Manager in a variety of areas. She helped with Jasper's Sackville Street townhouse store before the 2005 opening.

Sophie Conran Pies, a collection of pies launched in 2004 -winners of 4 Fine Food Awards in 2005 – were not her first foray into the food world. In her twenties Conran created a supper club and then collaborated with brother, Tom. Together they set up a catering company, an experience that helps in her role as patron for Breakthrough for Breast Cancer's Breakthrough Banquet initiative.

Conran's debut cookbook – Pies – was published in November 2006 by HarperCollins (£12.99), and was a success, with a mini version entitled Easy Pies later released. Her second book, Soups and Stews, was published by Collins in October 2008 and a further cookery book is in the pipeline. She has written food & entertaining stories for many UK titles including InStyle and Living, etc., and for the last two years has been a contributing editor to Junior magazine.

In March 2006, Conran's kitchen, glass and tableware range for Portmeirion launched nationwide in the UK. It received an Elle Deco Style Award for Best in Kitchens 2006 and the House Beautiful Award for Best in Tableware in 2008. Conran then created a fine dining range, White Oak, launched in the USA. Sophie Conran for Portmeirion is sold in over 55 countries.

In December 2007, Conran was a designer in the Save the Children's Festival of Trees fundraising event.

In 2007, Conran collaborated with Notting Hill Melt chocolates, to create a chocolate inspired by sweet pies from her first book Sophie Conran's Pies. The chocolate uses a combination of flavours including Earl Grey tea, ginger and cranberry.

In 2008 Sophie teamed up with bathroom store Drummonds of Chelsea to redesign their Chelsea showroom. In 2011 a range of coloured baths were launched.

Also in 2008 Sophie began a collaboration with UK wallpaper company Arthouse, to create collections for B&Q stores.

In 2009, Sophie launched 'The Cook's Companion' with Harvey Jones Kitchens, a freestanding kitchen aid designed for the keen cook.

In 2010 Conran launched a cutlery collection with British manufacturer Arthur Price. In 2011 she designed range of garden tools with the Sheffield-based company Burgon & Ball. The range was shortlisted for Product of the Year at the Chelsea Flower Show 2011.

Personal life

Sophie has two children, Felix and Coco, with her ex-husband Alex Willcock.