It seems most appropriate that when David Shilling is speaking on the phone from his home in Monaco, fireworks can be heard in the background bursting across the Riviera sky. They might be mimicking his life, full of exuberance, creativity and artistic innovation. Let's not forget, and indeed how could we, that Shilling is the man who as a teenager designed a hat for his mother Gertrude to wear to Ascot. A hat that subsequently earned him a place in British design history. Three foot wide and black and white, it established a tradition. Gertrude wore a different creation every year for 30 years until her death in 1999. And Shilling had an outlet for his creative talents that matched his mother's eccentricity. It was a perfect fit.

It was hats that propelled Shilling into the artistic world. The Ascot creations were completely original. They may have been called hats but they appeared in many different guises. A five foot giraffe, a rabbit appearing from a top hat, and William Tell's apple shot through with an arrow were just a few of the amazing hats that not only livened up the races but generally made newspaper headlines. It was a heady time and Shilling went on to open up his first shop in London's Marylebone High Street in 1976, just around the corner from where he was born in Welbeck Street.

The shop sold hats, scarves, silk blouses and other accessories but says Shilling, "It was the hats that were most successful. Bloomingdales bought the first collection." Bergdorf's and Nieman Marcus followed suit. 'Each one was one of a kind.' His hats were going worldwide and he considers himself 'a pioneer of British design'. "It was revolutionary that a British designer was working internationally. I'm proud of my role as an ambassador. People seem to look at my work and think that it's very British, that there's a slight eccentricity to it." Shilling says, "Somebody had to do it and I decided it had to be me." It's this child-like enthusiasm that informs his work. He admits, "It's still a childhood passion. It's a dream. I adore my work."

Words that constantly punctuate Shilling's eager conversation are 'happy' and 'innovation'. On Monaco he says, "I'm always happy here. It's very civilised, very respectful, there's a lovely feeling. I used to come with my parents and always kept up the visits."

If one jumped into the creative head of Shilling it might be hard to know where to turn to first. Like fireworks exploding into different colours and patterns, his artistic inclinations are dazzling and appear to have no limits.

Innovation is central to all of Shilling's work. He's had no art training and says, "I just picked it up." He was lucky to meet 'creative geniuses like David Hockney and Ossie Clark, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and Calvin Klein' along the way. And it wasn't long before his hats were being considered works of art, with the Flowers Gallery in east London showing his work at the beginning of the '80's. Following that the Ulster Museum presented a one man show. "It was a blockbuster success and traveled around public galleries," says Shilling. This was the beginning of his hats becoming highly collectible and being displayed in collections world wide.

If one jumped into the creative head of Shilling it might be hard to know where to turn to first. Like fireworks exploding into different colours and patterns, his artistic inclinations are dazzling and appear to have no limits. As he says, "The trouble with me is I try my hand, I make a success, and then have to go on and do more." Today the internationally known hat maker is creating polished steel sculptures that in some ways cheekily bear a passing resemblance to the swirls and flourishes adorning his hats. These find their way into galleries, open spaces and the gardens and homes of clients.

When it comes to commissions Shilling is the ultimate in discretion. But one can assume these are people who appreciate his wit and humour. And humour plays a large part in his work, which is no more evident than in those marvelous hats his mother wore. He sees himself as an 'artist, designer and inventor', realising, as he says that 'there is an expectation I will do something innovative and exciting'. On art he says, "It's definitely a form of communication. It's very important there's a lot of joy and happiness. I like bringing joy." A particularly playful piece, but with a serious message, was the water sculpture he designed this year based around the fountain in the Casino Gardens in Monaco as part of the Exposition Ecofuriste. Called O! Shilling – a play on the French word for water – it was 10 metres wide and eight metres high and part of a showcase of 35 artists work highlighting the need for conservation.

Shilling says, "I've done my reflecting over the last ten years and now is very much the time to move on." He gives the impression that he'll never run out of ideas saying, "There's very little limit really. I'm just very grateful to be involved in projects that are happy." For him the 'process is extraordinary' and says, "Everything in ones life affects ones work."

Innovation is central to all of Shilling's work. He's had no art training and says, "I just picked it up."

And work has gone far beyond hats and sculptures. Shilling's worked for the Stroke Association – his father died suddenly from a stroke in his 80's. He's also designed a house off Park Lane, created the logo for the Consortium for Street Children and was part of the design contingent of Cool Britannia in the mid 1990's. He says he can 'still leave a nightclub at 3am and get set for work early in the morning'. None of this is surprising given his prolific nature.

He has a passionate relationship with white, creating white paintings which have been described more like sculptures due to his use of relief. He's created light projections at Sadlers Wells and the Barbican in London. And not content with designing most of the furniture in his own home, he's also turning his hand to new projects. In June this year Shilling will launch, almost simultaneously, his first perfume in London and Monaco. In London it will be unveiled at the Coutts London Jewellery Week exhibition at St Mary Axe, better known as the Gherkin. A fitting venue for a man with his background. On the perfume he comments, "It's been a dream for some time." But for now it's under wraps. All he will say is that 'it's a limited edition and will come in a jeweled bottle'. And jewels seem to be a popular theme at present. He's currently working on a collection of ten jeweled hats, each priced at £1 million. The first of these was displayed at the Top Marques car show in Monaco in 2007. Even before that one of his hats had been described by the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive hat ever.

Shilling spends almost all of his time now in the Mediterranean principality. Monaco is very much his home and he says, "It's a very special place, it's magic." He lives opposite the palace in a 300 year old building. For Shilling Monaco is 'paradise.' But he says 'don't tell anyone, because it's so small' and space is limited. He loves its 'amazing diversity' and maybe it's this that feeds his abundant creativity. With so much behind him it's only a matter of time before he's tackling the next challenge on his design quest.

For more information visit www.davidshilling.co.uk.

Coutts London Jewellery Week will be held between 11 th and 15 th June – for more information visit www.couttslondonjewelleryweek.com

By Michele Nevard