GLASS

Subcategories

• Stuart Akroyd

  Stuart has been making glass for over 20 years. His glassmaking career began in the North East and in 1991 he set up Stuart Akroyd Glass Designs where his creativity flourished. In 1999 Neues Glas Review selected one of Stuart’s one-off forms in their 100 best pieces of glass made in the world that year.

  Stuart moved to Nottingham in 2000 and expanded his studio to give his professional development a new direction. His adaptation of traditional Venetian techniques expanded the physical possibilities of how the glass could be worked and led to a whole new range of designs.

  He has always found inspiration from nature; his use of vibrant colours and rhythmic patterns echo the flora and fauna of the ocean. Stuart is recognised nationally and internationally as an accomplished designer/maker, sought after for commissions and collections; both public and private

• Gregg Anston-Race

  Gregg was born and brought up in Cornwall and still lives and works in the county. He studied at art college and later became interested in glass. 

  His early glass work was greatly influenced by the colours and effects he found in the deposits of metal ores in the old mine workings he explored as a child. He originally used mineral foils in his coloured glass work. 

  More recently he has worked with coloured glass powder to create flowing and organic line and develop new textures. He has developed techniques for working with glass powders that are unique to his work, which creates an ususual textured look in the glass, a process which requires a long time in the kiln and which allows the work to take on its organic form. 

• Jenny Ayrton

  Jenny graduated from Plymouth College of Art in 2012. In 2014 she was selected for the prestigious Crafts Council Hothouse 4 scheme; 'this has really helped to give me confidence and direction. 'I capture miniature wonderlands in molten glass; tiny stage-sets upon you may project your own story. Many of my scenes have a domestic twist and are directly influenced by my surroundings. I have a young daughter and whenever possible I try to see the world from her viewpoint, I find inspiration in the mundane and overlooked; a washing line blowing wildly on the first day of spring, an unknown couple on a park bench, a door ajar giving just a glimpse of what lies within…'

• Jennifer Barker

• Mim Brigham

  Mim Brigham is a Cornish glass artist who specialises in hot and warm glass. Her work fuses together her passion of science and art and her use of different glass techniques produces works that have abstract individuality with a literal twist. It started with a blade of Marram Grass, carefully cut to one cell thick, stained and viewed through a microscope. Mim discovered it whilst studying Biology many years ago. She was struck by its beauty then, and it remained in the back of her mind until she developed this body of work.

  Mim's collection, Microscopic, has won her multiple awards including the Devon Guild of Craftsmen Design Award. Her work has been published in the Design and Craft magazine, Cornwall Today and the Contemporary Glass Society magazine following a Highly Commended award in their graduate review.
• Lesley Ann Clarke

  Lesley was born in St Ives, she is a self-tough artist, her 'Cornish Seas' collection perfectly represent her love and passion for Cornish coastline.

  “To grow up in St Ives in the seventies was an art lesson that lasts and to visit the Leach pottery regularly or to spend your days with the street artists, wandering through workshops, daily cements a relationship with arts and crafts that puts them at the centre of life itself.

  Over the years many artists have come to live and work in St Ives for its light and wondrous views.

  Lesley's work with blown glass makes full use of the light and the flowing nature of hot glass, she uses two coloured glasses in powdered form. Blue and white glass is rolled into the hot crystal and the oxides on the coloured glass react to give ochres. The colours mix and swirl and give the impressions of the landscape and seascape within the glass itself shaped to reflect movement.

• Bob Crooks

  Bob Crooks is one of Britain’s most highly recognised leading glassmakers. Renowned for the high quality, skillfully executed dynamic forms and surfaces, he has been producing over the last twelve years, continuously thinking of original and challenging ideas. His work has been exhibited at International level and in noted exhibitions in Italy, China, Scandinavia, Australia and the USA, alongside many exhibitions at home in the UK. 

  The pieces are inspired by Geometry, Architecture, the Natural and Man-made worlds we live in as well as the qualities and capabilities of the glass itself. Throughout the variety of the work, Bob exploits the many properties of the material through refraction or reflection; sharpness or softness, transparency or opacity, working with its fluidity and ‘freezing’ it as the desired form is realised. 

  Within the range of production work made, Bob has consciously developed work that is, because of the nature of different applications, a one-off, it is not possible to make two pieces identical. The unique pieces have now escalated in size, creating a more dramatic statement. Although large scale, closer inspection reveals intricacies which demand closer inspection. The resultant objects demonstrate a masterly love of the material with attention to fine detail.

• Julie Langan

  Julie is an artist with over 21 years’ experience within the industry; she has built up a reputation for quality, innovation and uniqueness.  Alongside bespoke interior and exterior artwork, Julie also produces an exquisite selection of glass giftware.

  Julie derives her inspiration from much of the natural environment. From the dramatic panoramas of the Lake District and Scottish mountains to the delicate flora and fauna of the Lancashire pastures. 

  Landscape collection 

  Unique pieces of art created by fusing metals, oxides and enamels between layers of glass to capture the dramatic panoramas, tranquillity and the earthy tones and textures contained within the beautiful British Landscape.

• Peter Layton

  Peter is one of the finest and most respected glass artists working today. Such is Peter’s contribution to glass art that it is difficult to know where to start; how to condense more than half a century of boundary-pushing, skill, bravery and expertise into a few words?

  True to say his impact is noted by both critic and layman alike for he has been at the forefront of British studio glass since the 1970s and has contributed more than most to its promotion and burgeoning success.

  Peter’s work is highly sought after and is in numerous private collections as well as museums both here and abroad.

• Julia Linstead

  Julia Linstead lives and works in the Scottish Borders. She produces a range of unique glass pieces, engraved with classic flowering designs, based on animal and plant themes. Her approach to decoration is influenced by the fluid nature of the glass and by the way in which natural light illuminates the subject, creating atmosphere and mood.
  
  Each piece is blown to her specification in 24% lead crystal by glassblower Jane Charles. The work is usually ‘cased’ meaning it is blown as a sandwich of coloured and clear glass. The piece is then covered with a film of plastic, the design drawn on this and then sandblasted, etching the design into the glass. Varying depths of engraving result in differing intensities of colour and further effects can be achieved by cutting into both sides of the glass. This is a simple description of what can be a fairly complicated process, the end result being a unique and beautiful object.

• Rebecca Mansbridge

• Morpheus Glass

  Morpheus Glass studio is a family business owned and ran by fused glass artist Stephanie Bowen and graphic designer Ian O’Brien.
  Contemporary fused glass design and individuality is the focus of fused glass designer/maker Stephanie Bowen. Using a range of advanced glass fusing techniques Stephanie is able to achieve a beautiful, unique and original range of contemporary fused glass products. Her passion for designing and making fused glass is inspired from the exploration of the materials she uses and the effects and textures possible, along with her fascination with combining colours and patterns.
  Her interest in this fascinating material started over 15 years ago during her studies at college. After just one year of experimenting with several different techniques Stephanie chose glass as her specialist subject for her degree at university. Since completing her studies Stephanie has continued to learn new skills and develop her unique fused glass technique.
  
  As one of the leading fused glass artists in the UK Stephanie now supplies fused glass work to galleries, shops, interior designers, architects and independent traders both nationally and internationally alongside exhibiting her work in both solo and joint exhibitions throughout the UK and predominantly enjoys working with clients on a range of varied and exciting bespoke commission projects.

• Thomas Petit

  Thomas Petit Glass is based in Derbyshire. “I draw upon many influences in the creation of my glassware, from the broad spectrum of the Arts, my own photography to everyday objects & experiences.
  When I set out to design a new range, I usually have a set of colored combinations, in mind. Sometimes, it is the happy accidents, that sparks the best ideas.”

• Alison Vincent

  Alison uses glass to capture impressive details from her encounters in remote, pristine locations; her art aims to raise awareness of the environment, wilderness and the fragility of nature.

  
  ‘I hand-create art inspired by my encounters in remote wild nature using glass and unexpected techniques. I have a passion for being in extreme wildernesses - especially oceans and ocean life, mountains, ice and sailing or diving. These big expanses give me a sense of adventure and exhilaration and being there is a real privilege. Vast, rugged landscapes make me feel very small but connected with this world. I am concerned about their fragile future and want to raise awareness so others care and protect them too.

  
  Glassblowing is the hardest thing I have ever done! It’s challenging, expensive, addictive and satisfying. My making process can be dramatic and is part of my overall enjoyment. I first blew glass in 2012 and mid-2019 focused fully on it. I self-trained in the UK by hiring studios and the owner for one to one tuition. I am based in South Buckinghamshire.’