It all started back in 1971 when Chris left art college and began work in the family business which specialised in making neon signs. Back then, neon was mainly used as an advertising medium. Chris recognised the potential of neon as an art form and began incorporating this idea in his designs. He became known for the amazing signs he produced which did not go unnoticed by the King of Soho Paul Raymond who commissioned Chris to make his neon signs for the Raymond’s Review Bar and other Soho establishments. Chris very quickly became known as the go to man for the best designs resulting in him re-signing around 90% of Soho. His beautiful neons and famous “Girls, Girls, Girls” signs illuminated the streets of Soho bringing a vibrance and excitement to the area.

One day in 1983 whilst up a ladder fitting a sign in Soho Chris was approached by the art director Christopher Townsend who wanted to gain access into one of the Soho clubs to film but the owners would not give him permission. Chris made a deal there and then if he made this possible he would be given the sign work on the film being made which was ‘Mona Lisa’. Chris arranged this with a club owner and resulting film work was done. This was Chris’s introduction to the film industry from which work on numerous films followed. Just a few to mention are: Judge Dredd, Batman, Superman 1, Eyes Wide Shut, Mission Impossible, Captain America, Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, Who Killed Roger Rabbit, The Saint, Fifth Element and tons more.

As time went on and the collection grew production companies started to hire these for dressing the sets resulting in most of them being used in films, adverts, pop videos and many other media forms.

It was difficult to think of a name for the collection but one day whilst on the internet Chris read an article by the American architect Peter Blake who said the large sky signs, motel and gas station signs ”were turning Gods Own Country into Gods Own Junkyard”. Chris thought we have the very things he is talking about in storage so the name was born.

The collection was outgrowing the allocated storage space when an opportunity came along in 2010 to do a Pop up Shop in Carnaby Street London with Spine TV. We filled three floors with neon and the response was amazing. Rather than put them back into storage we rented a property to display them in Vallentin Road Walthamstow but after a few years the developers moved in to build flats so we were thrown out. As luck would have it our present home in Ravenswood Ind. Estate came along giving us a much larger area to show the pieces.

Our visitors come from all over the world and said it would be lovely to sit with a coffee and just look at the neons so we opened a Café. Then others said a glass of wine while enjoying the light would be wonderful so we obtained a licence and opened the bar.

Sadly Chris passed away in November 2014 with Prostate cancer but as a family we have continued his legacy and still visitors come from far and wide to soak up some of the fabulous neon glow.