Thomas Heatherwick trained in 3D design at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal College of Art. He founded Thomas Heatherwick Studio in 1994 to bring together architecture, design and sculpture. Heatherwick and his team work from a combined studio and workshop in Kings Cross where concept development, prototyping and fabrication take place under a single roof.

Projects include B of the Bang, the UK's tallest sculpture; a Buddhist temple in Kagoshima, Japan; East Beach Café; Aberystwyth Arts Centre; Longchamp Store; and the Rolling Bridge.