We speak to Jane Hilton, the owner of our shoot location ‘Tavistock Works’, about the interior style of her home and what it’s like hosting shoots…

‘Tavistock Works’ is a distinctive lifestyle and studio space tucked away in a quiet mews in Islington, North London. Set across two storeys, the property combines a spacious open-plan living area with a striking upstairs daylight studio, creating a highly versatile environment for photography and filming. Scandinavian and rustic influences run throughout the interiors, with stone floors, exposed beams, white painted floorboards and large windows allowing natural light to flow through the space. The ground floor opens onto two private courtyard gardens, while the first-floor studio features a vaulted ceiling with an apex skylight and multiple French doors overlooking the cobbled courtyard below.

Originally a dark metalwork factory made up largely of garages, the building has been thoughtfully transformed into a calm and creative live-work environment by its owner, a photographer and filmmaker. We spoke to her about the inspiration behind ‘Tavistock Works’, how her creative background shaped the design of the space, and what it’s like welcoming production teams to shoot there.

What’s the story behind how you found and created your location?

After many years of looking, I finally found a commercial building in North London to make into a dream live/work space. I wanted to build a unique space of creative calm, away from the hustle and bustle from outside the front door, in the middle of London. As a photographer who divided my time between personal projects and commissions, I wanted to make something special and unexpected in the middle of the city.

Previously it was a dark metalwork factory mostly made up of garages. Most of the design therefore was spent making openings and glass panels to allow the light inside. Now we have an upstairs studio with stucco textured white walls, vaulted open rafters and a lantern tower to get maximum daylight even on a dull day.

Downstairs is completely open-plan with two courtyards providing views from the kitchen, dining and lounge areas. A ‘western’ snug and an adobe fireplace give the house a personal nod to the American West, whilst the use of American Walnut window frames and clean lines give a sense of mid-century living. Well, that was the idea anyway!

How has your experience as a photographer and filmmaker influenced the way you’ve designed the studio?

I have probably just answered this above… being obsessed with God’s light has meant I have tried to maximise the natural daylight as much as possible. All the plug sockets were made to be as discreet as possible (although everyone retouches nowadays).

Also, by keeping everything open-plan and using a few sliding doors, it means there are so many angles you can shoot at, it never gets boring. Plus, the interiors are simple so people can add/distract easily.

What do you think creatives value most when hiring your studio space?

Good access driving down to our front door with large props through a wide side-entrance gate. Great daylight is a bonus ball on most shoots, but also the sense of peace and creativity while they are working. We are tucked away down the bottom of a mews, so it is very private.

Do you have any favourite design elements or details within the space?

The stainless steel and walnut kitchen island designed by Crispin Tucker has been a great success separating the kitchen and most people gravitate towards it….

What appealed to you about listing your property as a shoot location?

It’s always wonderful to have creative teams working here – which is exactly why the property was set up in the first place.

What advice would you give to other creatives considering opening their own studio for hire?

You must be versatile, adapting to new briefs and teams. We try and give as much help as they need, especially with any problem solving, so that their day is easy and they can concentrate on ‘creating’.

Do you have a favourite shoot that’s taken place at the studio so far?

The BBC spent a couple of weeks filming “Black Power: A British Story of Resistance” for BBC2, which was incredibly inspiring. They wanted their subject matter to feel comfortable, and liked our home environment, so they ‘light blocked’ the entire space upstairs to shoot in, whilst the talent enjoyed relaxing downstairs with cups of tea. They were all such interesting, lovely people.

Have you learned anything new about your location through hosting shoots?

Even on the simplest of shoots there is a lot of kit and product that arrives… we now offer two garages attached to the house, one for all their props or lighting, and another garage which we allow people to put our furniture in, so they can comfortably shoot their own furniture like sofas etc in our home. It is incredibly versatile.

If you could sum up Tavistock Works in three phrases, what would they be?

Peaceful, beautiful light, easy workflow.

With its calm atmosphere, generous natural light and flexible layout, ‘Tavistock Works’ offers a distinctive setting for photography, film and creative production. The combination of a beautifully designed living space and a purpose-built daylight studio makes it particularly appealing for teams looking for multiple shooting environments within a single location. Tucked away in a private mews yet located in the heart of North London, the property provides both convenience and creative tranquillity.

List Your Property as a Shoot Location

Has Jane inspired you to list your own home or studio as a shoot location? Many unique spaces can work brilliantly for photography and filming. Get in touch with Fresh Locations to learn more, our team is always happy to guide location owners through the process of registering as a shoot location on our website.

Looking for more inspiring spaces? Explore our curated collection of photoshoot locations or browse our full range of London shoot locations.