“Design is a particular strength of ours, and we are open to working with clients and providing design services internationally.”

Craig Hamilton Architects takes a measured, traditional approach to architecture, founded on expertise in classical and traditional design, and close collaboration. Director Dr Gail Kenton is committed to this collaborative way of working and brings to it a South African perspective.

For Gail, the journey to the UK began earlier than most. She moved from South Africa at the age of 16, after her mother emigrated a few years earlier. What was meant to be a short stay quickly became something more lasting.

“I had thought I would be in the UK for a couple of years and then return,” she explains, “but I went to a fantastic grammar school to do A-levels and loved it.”

Gail went on to study architecture at the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art in the early 1990s.

“Glasgow was European City of Culture at the time, and it was a dynamic place to be,” she recalls.

She qualified as an architect in 1998 and initially specialised in environmental design and building sustainability, completing postgraduate degrees at Cambridge. Her PhD research, undertaken in collaboration with scientists at the BP Institute in Cambridge, led to the invention of a low-energy vent and control system for spaces such as classrooms and theatres. After helping to design a prototype for installation in a local primary school, she realised she missed seeing architectural ideas carried through from concept to completion.

“I realised my heart was in architecture, rather than working as a sustainability consultant or in research,” she says.

It was a pivotal career decision, and she returned to architectural practice.

Gordon Castle Walled Garden Cafe

Craig Hamilton Architects was founded by Craig Hamilton, himself originally from South Africa. Around 2006, he asked Gail to open a London office to deliver projects there.

That experience marked the beginning of her long-term leadership within the practice. “Most of my working career has been with the practice,” she says. In 2022, Gail became a Director.

The practice works across urban and rural contexts, at a range of scales, and on new-build projects as well as existing and listed buildings. It specialises in traditional and classical architecture, with high-end residential and country house work forming a significant part of its portfolio.

“We work closely with clients, other consultants, artists, and craftspeople to deliver beautiful work,” Gail explains. “I feel very privileged to do the work we do. It is very rewarding.”

That collaborative ethos has earned recognition at the highest level: Craig Hamilton Architects is listed in the Country Life and House & Garden Top 100 architectural practices in the UK.

Mews house in London

Design Without Borders

Although rooted in the UK, Craig Hamilton Architects works internationally by partnering with local teams. “Design is a particular strength of ours, and we are open to working with clients and providing design services internationally,” Gail says.

It is a model well suited to a globalised profession: collaborate locally, lead creatively, and respect the nuances of place.

Building the Next Generation

Looking ahead, the focus is steady rather than dramatic. “The intention is to keep going and expand the Winchester office, as well as to help develop the younger generation of architects coming through,” Gail explains.

She is equally open about giving back to the South African community abroad. “I’d be happy to provide insights and/or guidance to any fellow South African architects who are wondering about pursuing architectural careers in the UK,” she says.

It’s a quiet offer, but a meaningful one – especially for young Saffas standing on the same threshold she once crossed.

A South African Thread

Although her career is firmly established in the UK, Gail’s story still carries a distinctly South African sensibility: humility, resilience, and a practical understanding that good work speaks for itself. There’s no rush to declare success, no need for theatrics – just a steady commitment to craft and collaboration.

Gordon Castle Walled Garden Shop

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