About Us
Founded by Ciaran in 2004, The Big Picture has grown from its Midlands roots into one of the UK’s most respected names in bespoke audio-visual and home automation. Now in its third decade, the company remains at the forefront of an industry it has helped to shape.
What sets The Big Picture apart is its ability to take complete ownership of every project – from initial design through to final installation. As one of only a handful of UK companies offering a truly full-service proposition, clients can trust that every detail is in expert hands from start to finish.
The team’s passion for excellence is reflected in the products they choose to endorse – carefully selected for their innovation, quality, and design integrity. It’s an approach that has earned the company multiple industry awards and a reputation built on precision, aesthetics, and an unwavering commitment to getting things right.
Whether transforming a living room or equipping an entire home, The Big Picture brings over twenty years of expertise to every project, delivering audio-visual solutions that are as beautiful as they are technically brilliant.
A Word From Ciaran
“My passion for music started early. As a two-year old, I would push my face up to Mom’s Roberts radio and relish ‘Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep, Cheep’ and Hot Butter’s ‘Popcorn’!
Dad generously bought me a record player and speakers for my seventh birthday. He also donated much of his classical vinyl collection, it sparked a lifelong interest in music.
I also acquired Mom’s copy of ‘Jacques Loussier Plays Bach’ and ‘Revolver’ – still my favourite Beatles album. I’ve been in-and-out of bands since I was 14, some for fun, some to make it big (which never happened). In fact, three days after my ‘O’ Levels, I found myself at Butlins Skegness playing drums in an ‘Oompah’ band!
Once my first Summer Season was over, I worked at Pro-AV installation company, ‘Viewfax’. Viewfax Director Lindsay Reid developed the first profiled digital background music system (Bose Digital). We installed that system in bars, clubs, and restaurants across the country. Shortly after a stint at university studying Photography and Art (and a job in advertising photography), I set off to travel around the world.
I got my first CD player in 1986. I’ve upgraded ever since. My last professional work touring Europe was with a well-known British Rock Band as the drummers’ back-line technician. I was responsible for how his drums and monitors sounded each night – and keeping his kit in one piece.
Around the same time (2002), I did my Linn training and became a CEDIA member. This is when I got into Home Cinema and, shortly afterward, set up The Big Picture.
I live and breathe music and movies and love to share that passion wherever and whenever I can.”
Ciaran personally designs every inch of The Big Picture’s cinemas. He has completed hundreds of expertly-considered rooms over the decades, including all of our award-winners.
The Big Picture doesn’t leave design to suppliers who only want to sell their kit. Nor do we use generic cinema design software that can’t account for the idiosyncrasies of unique spaces.
We like to be responsible for every project’s design, build, set-up and programming from beginning to end. We are on-site every day from the first fixing right through to handover.
Responsible & Responsive
The Big Picture doesn’t use third-party installation companies or sub-contractors. We would never risk the possibility that they might fail to fully absorb or correctly interpret our designs.
We often make design improvements we better understand the space. This is particularly key when deconstructive works are underway. Any hurdles encountered along the way can be dealt with on-the-fly with knock-on effects to the design solved immediately.
The Big Picture has built many highly complex, five and six-figure cinemas from the ground up, gaining recognition in the industry for very high standards. These skills, earned over decades of experience, are brought to every single cinema we do.
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