Member Directory: M
Having retired from a varied career in planning and conservation I entered the exciting world of glass art and set up my studio in 2009. I work from Penarth, on the coast of the Vale of Glamorgan where I have lived for over 30 years. My main inspirations come from the natural world of seacapes and gardens. I particularly love the three-dimentional qualities of kiln-formed glass and my work includes scenes and plaques as well as tableware and jewellery.
I am Director of MAVA since 2003. I am one of this lucky person that profession and passion coincide. I love contemporary glass art (or art with glass) and the feeling of belonging to a small group of people, spread around the world, who love glass.
I use majorly hot glass to create factual and imagined objects that often take the form of individual pieces or collections of curiosities. Personal experiences, peculiar facts, elaborate hoaxes and more recently, voyages of discovery, endeavour and exploration all help to inform, whilst a passion for both traditional craft skills and innovative new technologies play an important part in the execution of the work.
My aim is to make unique, hand crafted, kilnformed glass. My work is inspired by nature, travel, people, our experiences, thoughts and memory and kilnformed glass enables me to explore these themes in colour, texture, light and movement.
I originally studied printed textile design and after completing a P.G.C.E. I taught Art & Design for a number of years. Consequently I discovered glass and opened my studio, Discovery Glass in County Down in 1990. My work has developed from solely "tiffany" style glass to kiln-formed, fused and stained glass.My creations are very varied, from jewellery to windows and I specialise in commissioned pieces. I offer tuition to small groups of students.
Contemporary glass artist making decorative panels and architectural glass by commission and for exhibitions/galleries. Incorporating printing techniques, warm glass techniques, photographic images, acid etching, casting and glass painting into leaded and sculptural work.