QEST/Johnnie Walker Scholar

In summer 2023, Lulu was the recipient of a QEST scholarship (sponsored by Johnnie Walker), which funded a bespoke training programme with historical glass expert Dr. Chloe Duckworth, at The Wolfson Laboratory, Newcastle University. Over the course of six months and under the guidance of Chloe, Lulu tested different glass recipes made from various silica, alkali and calcium sources, with a maximum of 3 ingredients in each batch. Her focus during the training was in ancient glass analysis, sustainable material sourcing and processing (inc. foraging legalities), batch formulation and alternative firing methodologies.

All the materials were sourced locally to Newcastle, and were either a natural raw resource, in abundance or invasive; or collected as waste from a local industry. As an example of this, she was working with waste wood ash and fish bones from a local restaurant, Riley’s Fish Shack, and bracken from Northumberland National Park which was already cut down for control regulations.

Through working with high-flux recipes, they were able to see lower melting temperatures with the aim of making it a less energy intensive process. The training also taught Lulu the benefits of working with non-traditional furnaces, and how to minimise carbon output through modular design and efficient stoking/fuel consumption. She also learnt how natural impurities from raw materials can be used to colour glass, as a non-hazardous alternative to metal oxides.

As a result of her training Lulu made over 30 new glass recipe prototypes (based off ancient recipes), which were exhibited at the ‘History in the Making’ exhibition at Compton Verney Gallery (October 2023 - February 2024).