Archives: Artists

I particularly love the technical potential of glass and my most recent series is a range of handmade glass pictures from glass sheet, glass frits and powders demonstrating their reactions with metals. The series includes pieces in a modern / post-impressionist style as well as abstract landscapes. My art journey feels like a reaction of knowledge, experiences and chemistry with materials – much like these pictures.
My qualifications in glass and ceramics (Higher Education Certificate from University for the Creative Arts, Farnham) and Adult Education courses at Morley college and Richmond Art school have broaden my technical skills. Thanks to wonderfully supportive teachers and mentors I have taken part in live exhibitions (Leicestershire, Bristol, Torquay, London), online CGS exhibitions and craft fairs; as well as exhibiting in Ireland, London and Tacoma (USA) via collaborative exhibitions.

I am a member of the Contemporary Glass Society and Just Glass group of artists. I am also a founding member of the UK Glass Art Collective – formed of 14 UK glass artists – who will be curating exhibitions each year and regularly collaborate and share knowledge. I am a regional coordinator for CGS for the South East of England along with Gabrielle Argent.

The inspiration for my work comes from my experiences in life, looking at a garden, listening to music or a poem, looking at fireworks or a landscape, or even the holes in the ground or prints on a pavement or road all give me ideas.
My latest project was on the environment, my piece was called the melting of the ice caps, it has been sold

Worshipful Company of Glaziers & Painters of Glass 2022 Stevens commission winner.

The current format of my personal practice is massively rewarding, as I am progressively enhancing the scale and complexity of each completed glasswork in combination with materials commonly found in industrial settings. I draw inspiration from graffiti culture, urban decay, brutalist architecture, and industrial design. I am particularly interested in the contrast between rigid, repetitive structures and the unpredictable patterns of decay. Utilising my broad skill set, I have begun fabricating systems that facilitate the transition from static glassworks to automated installations to be exhibited exclusively within gallery settings. My knowledge of glass, together with bonding and coldworking techniques, enables me to construct layered sculptures that explore depth and structure. These approaches are central to the approach to my latest body of work. Please get in touch regarding my availability to exhibit my work, opportunities for commissioned work or collaborative projects.

The majority of my designs are minimalist in nature, while the techniques are decidedly not.

The Every Drop Counts bowls are fired five times and each display a unique design. The first firing involves creating a glass blank by scoring, breaking and firing two pieces of sheet glass. The second step involves creating a distinctive kiln-carving design using fiber blanket. The next two firings involve building up the edge and crest of the “wave” of the bowls edge. After the fourth firing the bowl goes through a lengthy edge grinding and polishing process. In the final firing the piece is slumped into a mold to create its shape.

In the past year I have begun to engage in processes which involve creating elemental designs and textures using sifted glass powders. You can see this technique used in my Moment In Time wall castings collection, as well as in the small ice cube. Thin layers of organic glass powder creations are sifted and capped between pieces of sheet glass to create a layering effect. The wall pieces are 7-8 layers thick, while the ice cube is nine layers thick. Each piece has design layers, as well as clear layers to create a sense of depth.

Using my glass blowing experience, I have developed a process for glass blowing with recycled bottles. I start with a red-hot bottle preheated in an electric kiln. Using my innovative tooling I precisely grasp it without damage and further heat and shape it in the glory hole. Using glass blowing techniques I transform the rigid glass containers into highly reflective organic shapes. The viewer will have a new appreciation and perspective experiencing upcycled glass bottles as sculptural art and may rethink everyday actions taken in this throwaway society.