Traditional stained-glass and glass-painting workshops

I teach Traditional Stained-Glass, and Glass Painting techniques, in conjunction with Wolds Workshop; a sister enterprise of Matthias Garn & Partners, York.

Our shorter taster workshops are held at The Harriet Centre, York Cemetery, Cemetery Road, York, and in the choir vestry at St. Mary’s Church, Beverley, East Yorkshire. Our workspace in the North Choir Vestry at St. Mary’s, Beverley is incredibly inspiring. Our venue at York Cemetery is very beautiful and peaceful. We have room for a maximum of 8 students per workshop, and all equipment is provided.

All students learn how to cut glass to a template, and then cut and encase each piece of glass within a leaded and soldered framework, further strengthened by applying a waterproofing compound. Each student will get to take home and admire their own finished panel at the end of the day!

After learning the techniques involved in this medieval technique, from there-on-in it is easy to appreciate the art and craft of stained glass; the skill, the artistry, and the labour involved in this jewel-like medium.

Painting on glass is an extension of the stained-glass process, where more fine detail can be incorporated into a particular design. The pigments can be mixed with various carriers to achieve different paint effects and flow. Essentially the process is about controlling the amount of light coming through the glass, for artistic effect, and to set the mood of an interior space.

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Other teaching and workshops

The National University of Singapore MA in Architectural Conservation

I am a guest speaker for the Department of Architecture at The National University of Singapore. The MA in Architectural Conservation, tutored by Dr Nikhil Joshi, have a series of lectures on ‘Practical Building Conservation Skills’, within which I talk about ‘Stained-Glass Defects and Repair Methods in Historic Buildings’. This is a wonderful top-ranking course, run by a very dedicated team, and it is a great pleasure to be able to highlight to the students the ways we approach conservation in the Western World.

Mosaic taster session at St. Edward the Confessor Church, Dringhouses, York

Occasionally I do other workshops too. This large group workshop was part of a structured retreat day for a group of ladies from Clifton Parish Church, York. It was a two hour session, organised in conjunction with Claire Bower, the Youth & Families Worker at CPC. Each participant created two pieces. A mix of various glass and ceramic tesserae and broken pottery, were applied directly onto the surface of pre-prepared boards. They were grouted at the end of the day to consolidate the surface. It is always so interesting to see how everyone makes such unique designs from the same basic materials. Well done ladies!