What does it mean to you to join the North Lands Creative network and be part of building a community for glass?
Community is important especially in challenging times. Being part of the network enables one to be connected to community that has the same interests in a material and reduces isolation.
Tell us about your work. What influences translate into your art practice?
My work is based around using industrial technology predominantly water-jet both working in three and five axis along with digital printing. My practice very much based around industrial collaboration and how observing those interactions between the two creative and industrial sectors. Other influences are my everyday surroundings and the environment that we live within.
Has this changed the way you approach your work?
My approach has adapted, developing long-term partnerships with industry to be able to pursue ideas. Without regular access to waterjet machines I resort to digital printing, so I combine applications to help develop a more sustainable practice that can be undertaken in the small home studio I have.
What initially captured your imagination about glass?
I became interested in glass during my foundation, there was not glass on the course but somehow it grabbed my attention and has been with me ever since. I wanted to learn a skill and this material offered that focus.
What’s the significance of the handmade to you?
Its all about balance, concept and form. The idea is important and the tools manufacture whether digital or handmade should suit those ideal.
What was your route to becoming an artist?
My route was quite traditional and would probably say since the PhD (2006), I am an academic artist and the work continues to develop from that enquiry. Being a full-time educator, my practice has had to fit around that role. Maybe, I should claim to be a part-time artist.
‘Wheaton’ Photo Credit: Simon Bruntnell
What is your chosen medium and what are your techniques?
These can vary however primarily: water-jet, digital printing, casting and bonding. However a recent project used lampworking and I still occasionally do stained glass. ”Magpie with a focus on technology“.
How would you describe your work and where do you think it fits within the sphere of contemporary glass?
Hard to answer: pushing its parameters in terms of materiality and that of the processes. I have introduced new methods and in terms of placement, it challenges not in subject matter but pushes boundaries in terms of process and enquiry. Once told I make academic work that introduces enquiry something glass artists like but have possibly does not commercial angle that it should have. It is work that doesn’t shout out you have to come into it and observe.
Tell us a bit about your process and what environment you like to work in?
I work in a studio at the bottom of the garden and for cutting and spend time with the companies who I collaborate with. I am very visual in my thinking and that formulates the shapes and forms that start as sketches before going into software. Forms are printed to establish scale and their suitability. Access to water-jets machines is around a day a month for a few hours and that is very focused on testing, evaluation and cutting final outcomes.
Who do you look up to when it comes to aesthetics?
Its eclectic; but everything comes from my daily experiences and emotions. As for Aesthetics I enjoy simplicity and I look up to skilled and well executed work.
What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?
Those artists, who adapted, maintained and struggled through lockdown. I recognise I was lucky; uncomfortable, naming artists as there’s so many I admire and have inspired that it would be an like an Oscar speech. As for inspiration for work; living by the sea the merger of land, sea and sky have recently become important and that will inform new work for a solo show in 2022. My mother once said “I give a little insight into my character in each piece”.
How are you experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic in your country? To what extent has your everyday life as an artist changed in lockdown?
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Artist, Academic and Consultant.
Currently Subject leader in Product Design at Chichester University, previously had a couple of years working in the water-jet industry and was Glass Professor at UWTSD (2008-2015). Lecturing on the graduate and post-graduate glass programme. Trained initially in stained glass and have developed a practice that now specialises in using industrial technology.
