ABOUT US

Gray Baynes + Shew is an award-winning architectural practice, based in Oxford. We are passionate about good design and careful customer service. We work across a range of business sectors including Education and Healthcare and create buildings for all kinds of people and organisations. Environments for work, for learning, for healing, for rest, for play or for worship – people are always at the heart of the spaces we create.

We have two Partner Architects, and one Partner Surveyor, each with their own areas of expertise, who collaborate across sectors and projects to maximise the benefits of their experience for clients and end users.

Over the years our architectural practice has received a number of architectural awards, the results of some of our work has helped to change history and you will recognise some of our architectural designs and notable projects.

As part of our customer focused service we guarantee that one of our partner architects is responsible for every project and manages the team from inception to final certificate.

Our Offices - St Thomas House

St Thomas House was built in 1893 as the Vicarage to St Thomas the Martyr's Church next door. The architect was Clapton Crabb Rolfe, nephew of architect William Wilkinson, who designed many of the gothic villas in the Walton Manor area of North Oxford. St Thomas House was Grade II listed in 1972. We are fortunate here to have a spacious garden and ample parking for clients, a rarity in Oxford city centre.

OUR PEOPLE

David Welbourne | Partner
BA (Hons) Dip Arch (Oxon) RIBA

David is an extremely creative architect and designer. He manages to achieve the essential balance between aesthetics and functionality to meet a client’s individual brief and budget. He is the winner of many design competitions and demands good design at the heart of projects small or large.

David joined the practice in 2002.

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Matthew Bullock
BA (Hons), BArch (Liverpool), RIBA
Matt is an experienced designer who is able to provide successful solutions to complex briefs. Good strategic planning skills coupled with technical knowledge make him an effective leader of the design team. He has carried out many of the Practices’ most notable healthcare projects.

Matt joined the practice in 1998.

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Suellen Cortez | Architectural Assistant | BA (Hons)

Suellen joined Gray Baynes and Shew in 2021 as an Architectural Assistant. She achieved a bachelor degree in architecture in Brazil and has over 6 year experience as an Architectural Assistant in the UK. Having specialised in residential projects, barn conversions and commercial projects such as restaurants, as well as interior design, she now has expanded into healthcare, defense and education.

Suellen joined the practice in 2021.

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Nigel Spawton | Partner
BA (Hons), Dip Arch (Oxon), RIBA

Nigel is a good team builder, motivator and able to lead the project community without adversarial tactics. He has considerable experience, is well regarded by local contractors and sympathetic to the aims of strategic and project partnering. He is the framework director for all of the practices current frameworks.

Nigel joined the practice in 1985.

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Sam Wilson
BSc Arch, Dip Arch (Oxon), Dip BRS
Sam is a capable and flexible architect who is able to draw on extensive expertise across education and healthcare projects. His Dip BRS is in building reorganisation and he is comfortable working with an eclectic mix of building ages and types.

Sam joined the practice in 2008.

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Lesley Cully | Accountant

Lesley is an accountant with wide experience of financial management across a number of SME’S. She brings a detailed eye to the practices’ financial systems.

Lesley joined the practice in 2008.

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Mark Norton | Partner
MCIOB, AssocRICS, CMaPS, NRAC

Mark is a Chartered Construction Manager with extensive project management experience and is a registered Surveyor. He is a PRINCE2 Practitioner, registered Access Consultant and fully qualified Principal Designer. He is well regarded by consultants and contractors across all sectors and his experience of many methods of construction and procurement enables him to run projects efficiently and effectively.

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Lisa De Leon
BA (Fine Art), BArch (Toronto), MSc

Lisa has worked in the UK and Canada and is an experienced project architect. She is able to lead projects from inception to completion and has been involved in a wide variety of projects. She completed a master’s degree in Sustainable Building Performance & Design at Oxford Brookes University in 2016.

Lisa joined the practice in 2007.

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Sophie Hayhoe | Office Manager

Sophie is our officer manager and ensures that the practice runs smoothly and efficiently. She provides the administrative support which allows the architectural staff to focus on their creative efforts.

Sophie joined us in 2016.

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Fiona Godlement | Director
BA (Hons) Arch, Dip Arch, RIBA

Fiona is an architectural and interior designer with a wide range of experience in both large and small scale projects across many sectors including education, community, leisure and residential.

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Tony Stewart | Architect
BSc. Arch, BA (Hons), M.Arch

Tony is a well-motivated and hardworking individual who takes satisfaction in progressing a project from the initial design stages through to completion. He has had good project experience in education sector projects.

Tony joined the practice in 2012.

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