Process is a primary interest in my development with glass.
These works have evolved from experimentation and pushing the material to its limits in order to understand its behaviours. The result is a consequence of exploiting and refining the inherent behaviours of the glass when it is subjected to heat and rotation.
Acquired by the National Glass Centre for their collection. Currently shown as a part of their ‘40 years of Glass and Ceramics’ exhibition.
Sizes vary from 15cm to 55cm tall & 6cm to 10cm diameter.
Photography: Michael Holman, Juraj Ladziansky & David Williams
This series is created by bringing the processes of blown glass and kiln forming together. The work shares visual similarities with the rock stacks and strata on the Caithness coast: The harsh edges, colouration and defined layers.
During my residency time at North Lands Creative I wanted to create work in response to and directly influenced by my surroundings.
I have continued to work on this series during my time at S12 Galleri og Verksted, Bergen.
carragh fem
/kaRəɣ/ gen. -aigh, pl. -aighean
rock, pillar, monument, erect(ed) stone
Photography: Angus Mackay
The Origin Series is a collaborative project between myself and Alberto Lago, hosted by North Lands Creative and with the support of British Council Scotland, Creative Scotland and Salviati, Murano.
The work looks at the shared experiences of glass from different professions, perspectives, locations and histories. Combining skills and building relations in order to create work with a contemporary aesthetic whilst honouring essences of tradition.
We are delighted that this work will be shown for the first time with North Lands Creative during Collect - The International Art Fair for Modern Craft and Design at Somerset House, London, Feb/Mar 2020
Photography: Angus Mackay
Created during a residency at North Lands Creative, it was important for me to produce work in response to and influenced by my surroundings. These pieces take inspiration from the continually changing skies across Caithness and visible from the studio in Lybster..
Blown glass
Sgòth fem
/sgɔː/ gen. -a, pl. -an
cloud (bank)
Photography: Angus Mackay
Created during a residency at North Lands Creative, it was important for me to produce work in response to and influenced by my surroundings. This piece takes inspiration from the rock stacks hiding beneath the rising tides on the various shorelines I visited.
The pieces utilises blown glass in a kiln forming process.
faolainn fem
/fɯːLɪNʲ/ gen. -e, pl. -ean
stony beach, rocky shore
Photography: Angus Mackay
Created for VESSELS at Vessel Gallery - a Contemporary Glass Society fundraising event in July 2017
Private Collection
Inspired by the exhibition title Vessels at Vessel, and taking into account the brief requirement of a maximum volume of 750ml, I was lead to exploiting the homonym vessel further.
With this in mind, this piece contains a metal monopoly counter as a vessel standing on a selenite iceberg and protected by a faded white blown glass vessel.
A Vessel, in a Vessel, for Vessel.
31 (h) x 11 (w) x 11 (d) cm
Photography: Juraj Ladziansky
Created in my first year at Sunderland University, these pieces were exhibited at The Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead and the British Glass Biennale 2015
Private Collection
‘When we have dippy eggs we’ll always think of you’. This was written on the flowers we presented at my grandad’s funeral. I wanted to materialise the seemingly overlooked shared idiosyncrasies that only come into significance once the habit ceases. For me, my grandad always cooking me boiled eggs and allowing me to cut his red apple at lunch are examples of this and inspired this work.
34 (h) x 8.5 (w) x 8.5 (d) cm
Photography: David Williams
Created during James Maskrey's Masterclass at Bild-Werk Frauenau in May 2016
Donated to the Benefit Auction in support of Bild-Werk Frauenau
Private Collection
Inspired by my time in Frauenau, this work celebrates the appreciation for local beer in southern Germany. All the beer caps included were collected throughout the masterclass from beer brewed in the neighbouring town of Zweisel and available through Bild-Werk's extremely popular chilled vending machines!
The vessel and lid contain small bubbles within the glass itself, this aesthetic was inspired by works seen during a visit to the Glasmuseum Frauenau. Multiple beer mats collected during a brief stay in Munich on the way to Bild-Werk create a small plinth for the piece.
32 (h) x 7 (w) x 7 (d) cm
Photography: Bild-Werk Frauenau
The Idiosyncrasies series is about celebrating memories through the presentation and re-creation of important objects.
My inspiration is drawn from profound personal occurrences. This piece is in tribute to my late Nanna. Her collection of magnets, her love of tea and incredibly hospitable nature are all celebrated through this piece.
16 (h) x 37 (w) x 21 (d) cm
Photography: Juraj Ladziansky
Produced for my final degree show, this work was exhibited at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland as well as New Designers 2014 in London.
This work utilises a dining table setting, with hand blown components, as a canvas on which to convey differing personal recollections of a singular incident from my past. This canvas is symbolic of the times when memories are recounted and discussed over dinner between family members.
Inspired by personal memories and experiences that are shared with others, this work has come about following the exploration and analysis of an emotionally significant event.
'The Puffin Postcard’ is an installation that acts as an embodiment for a particular memory from my childhood that was shared with my mother, father and sister. Even now, 17 years later, I remember feelings of injustice and frustration.
Despite other childhood memories fading into obscurity, this one remains relatively clear and untouched. The strong emotional memory that remains for me of this singular incident is something I alone have retained, despite experiencing the incident with my family. For me, this work is a visual representation of that memory and is used to illustrate a personal journey through raw and unadulterated feelings of selfishness, injustice, anger and shame; ultimately arriving at a sense of empathy and morality.
89 (h) x 80 (w) x 152 (d) cm
Photography: David Williams
Created during James Maskrey's Masterclass at North Lands Creative Glass in August 2015
Private Collection
Inspired by a tale of local fishermen and witchcraft in the small coastal town of Lybster, this piece has 3 glass knots entwined with rope found on Lybster Harbour and placed inside a clear glass barrel wrapped with bicarbonate of soda glass canes to represent the barrel coopers.
22 (h) x 13 (w) x 13 (d) cm
Photography: Angus Mackay
Created at Bournemouth University, these pieces were exhibited at the Digital Design Centre, Poole.
This series of vessels was inspired by the presence of ink in water. The form of these bottles was influenced by an interpretation of calligraphy pen nibs. Produced during my final year studying at Bournemouth University, this series was originally exhibited standing within a pool of ink.
The reflections produced by the pool of ink are recreated using black as a background within the photographs.
Photography: David Williams
Created during a residency at North Lands Creative, it was important for me to produce work in response to and influenced by my surroundings. These pieces take inspiration from the silhouettes of the mountains on the horizon that are easily visible from the studio in Lybster..
Blown glass
Rùithe fem
/Ruːjə/pl. -an
outline
Photography: Angus Mackay
Created at North Lands Creative during a residency in August 2016
Property of North Lands Creative, Scotland
Designed in response to a brief set by North Lands to create a commemorative object for their 20 year anniversary as a part of a 4 week hot glass residency.
This collection comprises 8 mould blown vessels that contain individually donated objects from each Artistic Director that North Lands has seen during the 20 year period.
Photography: Angus Mackay
