‘‘I am a self taught glass artist, specialising in glass alchemy’’

As a researcher and maker in sustainable material development, I’m interested in creating glass artefacts inspired by primitive glass making and working with local and waste resources, with as little impact on the environment as possible. 

I am fascinated in this process, and how glass was once made on a very local level using materials which were abundant within the local area - such as during the Forest Glass era in late medieval northwestern and central Europe. Glassmakers were in essence able to create ‘geo-specific’ glasses according to the raw materials available. I am also interested in the different roles played within certain glasshouses, such as the ‘Maitre Verrier’, also known as the glass house master, who would mix the batch and hold the secrets of its constitution.

My journey in glass started during my MA in Materials Futures at Central Saint Martins, which I graduated from in 2022. Having previously lived in Cornwall, I already had links with local fishermen and was particularly interested in working with waste from the fishing industry. I then began to experiment with waste shellfish, and soon discovered that limestone (i.e shells) was in fact one of the main components used within soda-lime glass making. This began my interest in learning about the traditional craft practice and the history of glass making from raw ingredients to finished product.

Collaboration has played a huge part in my learning, and throughout my practice I have worked closely with glass studios in both the UK and Murano, including Wave Murano Glass, The Glass Hub, Blowfish Gallery, and glassblowers such as Benjamin Lintell, Sacha Delabre, Rosie Power & Elliot Walker. Most recently I have become a Visiting Researcher at Sheffield/Hallam University, working in partnership with the Glass & Ceramic Research Group to develop unique batch formulations, material testing and creative/industry connections.