Studio Glass
UNDER CONTINUOUS REVIEW, ANY SUGGESTIONS OR UPDATES GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.
NATIONAL SOCIETIES.
The Art Workers Guild Founded originally by the leading lights of the Arts and Crafts movement in the 1890s, the Guild is a society of artists, craftsmen and designers with a common interest in the interaction, development and distribution of creative skills. They represent a variety of views on design and stand for authenticity (irrespective of political and stylistic ideology) in a world increasingly uncertain about what is real. This is a Mecca of historical and present achievement in the field. The Guild of Glass Engravers. Pioneer Society promoting the highest professional standard in engraved glass of all types. Following the outstanding work of David Peace the Guild developed lettering as a high form of decorative art. The international excellence of its members is recognised world wide. The Yanks have nothing to touch it which may be why I have not seen many examples of British work in their museums. The Contemporary Glass Society. A Society which with Peter Layton I was privileged to found and organise its first two annual conferences. It has moved on since then and is a must for those interested in any or all aspects of contemporary glass. Don't miss their website. The British Society of Master Glasspainters. This site is not just for those active in the field. It includes a collection of interesting articles from its past newsletter including London churches with new stained glass. For the real enthusiast there is Caroline Swash's book 14 Stained Glass Walks in London - great value for a tenner. Craft Central, Clerkenwell Green. Keep an eye on this talented group of designer makers, particularly if you interests include jewellery and wheel engraving. Apparently they make good cup cakes too!TEACHING INSTITUTIONS
Royal College of Art. (Kensington Gore) The only School with furnaces for blowing. Morley College. (Lambeth North) Central St Martins College Of Art. (Holborn) City and Guilds of London Art School. (Kennington)CATEGORIES OF STUDIO GLASS WORKERS
Studio Glass working in London covers a wide range of activities and techniques, particularly in connection with stained glass and cold working.
Tracking them down, simply by means of a trawl through possible web sites, has proved more difficult than I thought. Several who to my knowledge trained or worked for a time in London, have now moved elsewhere. And although some websites include addresses, others seem determined to preserve anonimity as to their location. This must surely be counter productive as a way of attracting customers or commissions.
Below is a list of the few websites that I have been able to track down. Apart from the Glass Blowers the categories tend to overlap due to the fact that many use more than one decorative technique.
GLASS BLOWING
Peter Layton, London Glassblowing, Southwark.
Pioneered glassblowing in London. Enquire re private tuition.
Peter has now moved from the Leathermarket round the corner to more extensive premises at 62-66 Bermondsey Street. SE13UD. Nearest train and U/G stations are still London Bridge and Borough.
See his book: Peter Layton & Friends Celebrating London Glassblowing. Revised and reprinted 2008.
Glass Blowing Courses. Private tuition by glass blowing experts.
Scientific Glass Blowing Service, Queen Mary College.
(Tony and Caroline Benyon FMGP, ACR.Craft artists and conservation. See a nice article by Tony ; The development of Antique and other glasses used in 19th and 20th century stained glass, J. Stained Glass 2005, vol. XXIX pp. 184-198.) Rainbow Glass Studio, Stoke Newington. (basic training). Stained Glass Heaven, Stamford Hill (basic training). Finchley Stained Glass, Finchley. (restoration and repairs). Goddard and Gibbs, E15. (Commercial - all techniques).
ENGRAVED GLASS (copper wheel only).
Katharine Coleman, Clerkenwell Green Congratulation to Katharine who now has her name enshrined among the artistic gods in gold lettering on the rafters of the Art Workers Guild in Queens Square.ENGRAVED GLASS (dental drill,sandblasting etching etc.).
Michael Virden Glass, London SW6. (etching trophies etc.). Nicholas Rutherford. (flexible drive and sandblasting) Sally Scott. (Architectural glass - sandblasting).STAINED GLASS.
Benyon Stained Glass Studio, 21 priory Road, Hampton Middlesex, TW12 2NS. Tel. 020 89419975, email benyonstainedglass@hotmail.co.uk(Tony and Caroline Benyon FMGP, ACR.Craft artists and conservation. See a nice article by Tony ; The development of Antique and other glasses used in 19th and 20th century stained glass, J. Stained Glass 2005, vol. XXIX pp. 184-198.) Rainbow Glass Studio, Stoke Newington. (basic training). Stained Glass Heaven, Stamford Hill (basic training). Finchley Stained Glass, Finchley. (restoration and repairs). Goddard and Gibbs, E15. (Commercial - all techniques).