David Shilling
David Shilling (born 27 June 1949) is a self-taught creative artist, English milliner, sculptor, fashion and interior designer. He is best known for designing extravagant hats and clothing displayed on Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot He is known as "The Hatman” and "the Mad Hatter.” He is currently a Prospective Private Astronaut. Childhood. David Shilling was born in London and attended St Paul's School, London. By the age of twelve he was designing hats and outfits for his mother, Gertrude, for her to wear to the Ascot horse races until she died in 1999. By the  age of thirteen he was creating toys to sell at his local shop, and later, scarves and accessories to major British retailers such as Fenwick, Fortnum & Mason, and Liberty. Early trading. Shilling opened his first store in Marylebone High Street in 1976: two days after its opening the store received an order from a rock star's wife for twenty four hats. His first collection was purchased in America by Bloomingdale's; and other stores began selling his creations soon afterwards. In the late 1970s Bergdorf Goodman charged up to $3,000 for a David Shilling hat. Later activities. Shilling  subsequently decided to stop the wholesale branch of his hat-making works and focus entirely on made-to-order products. In 2007 he displayed the first of an expected ten collections of hats (each priced at £1,000,000) at Top Marques Monaco. In November 2009 he held his first show in mainland China at the Ritz-Carlton in Beijing. His work encompasses all areas of art, fashion and design, outdoor sculpture, jewellery, men's and ladies' bespoke clothing, accessories, home furnishings, theatre, ballet, opera and interior design. Charitable Work. Shilling has worked with many charities, including Consortium for Street Children  for whom he designed their logo & helped organise their launch at 10 Downing Street, World Horse Welfare, a patron of Action on Addiction, Darwin Centre, Natural History Museum, London, and created a millinery course for HM Prison, The Mount.