I had always painted mainly portraits and landscapes, long before I went to college as a mature student. I went intending to develop my skills with clay but glass chose me. Ever to my surprise I became fascinated with the techniques and the infinite possibilities of glass fusing. The ability to transform an unforgiving material into magically beautiful objects has held me under its spell ever since. That unique added dimension of transparency means I am also working with light.
I have been focussed on glass since 2000 and it still seems unreal.
I have enjoyed successes I never sought or dreamt of.
I was so lucky to be sponsored by Dartington Glass early on in my career and I will always be grateful for the encouragement they gave me. That was priceless. It makes all the hard work and dedication so much more enjoyable if someone else believes in you.
I was also incredibly thrilled when one of my sculptural pieces “Hippo Baby” was purchased by Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (now “The Box”) as it was judged by the public as their favourite art work in an exhibition there.
Hippo Baby, now at The Box, Plymouth.
I was later selected for a commission to produce a memorial to a young Plymouth man. This was a seriously challenging project in every conceivable way and took 3 years to complete. It was installed in the grounds of City College Plymouth.
However I cannot not rest on my laurels and I still have ambitions to develop my work.
I am totally inspired by the modern glass work of Dale Chihuly, and have always loved Lalique, Gabriel Argy Rousseau and Daum glass together with the philosophy of William Morris – “Truth to material”.