Richard Fletcher began his career working for the

Richard Fletcher began his career working for the Department of the Environment in the
Museums Palaces & Galleries section of the PSA. Whilst there, he was closely involved with
the design of permanent exhibitions within many of our National Museums both in London and
Edinburgh.
He was offered a senior design post with Qualart, an architectural metalwork company, where he
remained for another eleven years. He became one of the leading showcase designers in the
country and the authority on the 101 & 102 Crown Supplies showcase systems. He was the
designer/developer of their new ‘Ikon’ system. He designed modifications to enable much
higher levels of security for display for example the Harrison Chronometers and bullet proof in
the case of the Faberge exhibition at the V&A.
Because of his expertise, he was asked by Paul Williams of
Stanton Williams to design a completely bespoke showcase
system. This project involved designing new aluminium
extrusions which enabled slender but none the less stable
and secure shades and opening sashes. This was followed
by supervising the manufacture and installation of all the
showcases in the Oriental Costume Gallery of the V&A and
the Pyx Chamber of Westminster Abbey.
He worked closely with Robin Wade Partnership on the
Egyptian Sculpture Gallery British Museum and was
responsible for design, manufacture and installation of all the
display stands, screens and showcases.
He was also
commissioned by the design department of the British Museum
to improve on the Hahn system showcase. This design outperformed Hahn in stability, security, conservation and price.
Perhaps the two highlights of his career were introductions to the Queen for his work on the
National Gallery’s NW Extension inaugural exhibition and again for his work on the Bank of
England Museum.
In his own right as a museum designer, Richard Fletcher was responsible for the Costume
Gallery in the NMAS Edinburgh, the entrance and orientation module of the Natural History’s
permanent exhibition of Human Biology, the Regimental
Museum at Fort George near Inverness and all the public
galleries of the V&A’s Henry Cole Building. He has worked
for over 30 years for a leading merchant banker providing
security showcases both 17th century and contemporary styles
to blend with their interior locations.
One day he was offered the opportunity to work as the design consultant to Thomson Holidays.
Something completely different, which was to last twelve years, involving a lot of travel to
beautiful locations and warm sunshine. His remit was to development and implement
Thomson’s differentiated products such as Sun Hotels, Superfamily, Gold Hotels.
To date he has worked on scores of hotels in the Canaries and in many countries around the
Mediterranean. He has been responsible for production kitchens, restaurants, receptions, indoor
& outdoor entertainment stages, children’s playgrounds, crèches, new build hotels He once went
to Lanzarote in a day and on another occasion flew a light aircraft back from Ibiza.
Fom his office in Durham City, Richard Fletcher now trading as Amamus Design with an ever
widening base of experience in many differing design disciplines including corporate identity,
cruise ships, hotels, exhibitions, offices, bars, restaurants, veterinarian practices, retail outlets,
private houses and even a working mans club
Last year Amamus Design provided the space planning and detail drawings for a block of seven
apartments in Walker, Newcastle. Construction of this timber frame building was begun in
February and completed in August. It is now fully let. Other domestic dwellings included the
complete refurbishment of a grade II, listed house including all the local authority planning &
building control applications before monitoring & supervising work on site through to
completion. The client is now the delighted owner of one of Durham City’s most beautiful
Georgian houses.
More recently, Amamus Design was responsible for the planning, detail drawings, signage and
interior design for the Le Raaj Indian Restaurant. This restaurant is situated on Chester Moor
south of Chester le Street in a converted Methodist Chapel. Although Le Raaj has only been
opened a few months it is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the region’s best Indian
restaurants having recently won a National award for excellence.