Restored to former glory

Our latest project was to restore the stained glass windows in Church House, Glan Conwy in North Wales. My home. Originally fitted into the new building in 1932, they had suffered the test of time and were looking rather tired and stressed.

My task was to reproduce the original windows, to the same design, in this Grade II Listed building. The project was made up of 6 top panels which were repaired in-situ, 6 tall centre panels made new and replacing the existing ones and 6 bottom panels, again new and replacing the old ones, but fitted into removable opening windows.

The project took 3 months to complete and was finally installed on Friday 17 June 2011. A long, sometimes tedious task, that is rewarded with the most spectacular evening glow that throws wonderful casts of coloured light across the timber floor. Truly awesome, even spiritual!

A complete contrast to my usual work which has a distinct style, with it's curves, meaning and heavy narrative, this proved to be a challenge which I am very grateful to have be set. And provides an example of 'disciplined' contractual work which, in it's simplicity, is equally beautiful!

A place for all my Welsh work

Ever thought you 'belonged' somewhere else?

My Welsh grandfather moved to the South of England with his Dorset bride and as other distant relatives passed the link to 'home' slowly evaporated.

Drawn by something I can't understand or explain I moved to North Wales and planted a very small but enthusiastic seed. This was just a tiny step in the right direction.

However, mission was well and truely accomplished when, this week, my 12 year old daughter won Gold at Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Now, I appreciate that this may not mean much unless one understands it's context. I have made every effort to learn the beautiful language that is Welsh with some success, as has my wife.

However, for a child of two first language English speakers to learn 'everything' in Welsh is an astonishing achievement. To get through local rounds with her school choir singing entirely in Welsh and be chosen to represent the region is something else. To then go to Swansea to sing-off against all the other regions in Wales and get selected to appear on TV in Wales's top three is out there somewhere with the cookoos.
Then to win, well, I've run out of words...

This, I think, is the time to put all the work that appeals to my Welsh customers in its own special place. So, today I've launched 'Calon Cymraeg : Welsh Heart' to run along side Phoenix on facebook and be neatly packaged here on my website.

Handcrafted gifts and decorations, all glass, all Welsh, all from the heart!

My first Art Gallery Exhibition

Saturday 9 April 2011 was a very special day for me as it was the first time my work has been exhibited in an Art Gallery. For the owners to trust my work by giving me valuable floorspace is an honour and something I've dreamt about ever since I was hacking away at Breeze blocks in Art College trying find my way as a young and naive art student.

Walking in felt a little like arriving at my first Craft Fayre. Everyone else seems to know what they're doing and I'm bimbling around like a spare one at a wedding. Nerves soon dissappeared when before opening a gentleman walked in and asked to speak to me. After receiving his invitation he'd googled me and found my interview on UK Handmade Magazine (Thank you yet again Kirsten) with a link to this site. Impressed with my story of 'escaping the ratrace' he came to meet me and purchased a piece of my jewellery. Great start and the perfect calmer.

The Exhibition runs for four weeks and follows my love of and longing to be near the sea. The exhibition is a celebration of the fact that in the UK you are never far from the sea (a maximum of 72 miles, in fact). It includes stained glass panels that evoke feelings of the motion of the sea and of mythical legend.

Also on display are a collection of my latest seaglass sculptures, including bowls, vases, lamps and even a Christmas tree (yes, in April). Some combine different coloured seaglass in elegant waves and some of them feature sea pottery. A new addition, and one which appears to work well as my second sale of the day was lovely small seaglass and sea pottery bowl.

So, from breeze block chippings all over the floor to glass shards. It took a while, but I got there.
Don't suppose scoring the winner for Liverpool at The Kop end will ever come true but then, you can't have everything. One dream at a time...

Brenhines welcomes you to The Menai



'Brenhines' through the glass entrance at The Menai.

Brenhines (Queen) stands proudly at the entrance of the new Menai function suite at St George's Hotel, Llandudno but her full meaning is known by the few. Until now.

She was conceived standing on the promenade in front of St George’s Hotel and experiencing the magic of the surroundings. She is a celebration of all that is Llandudno, Queen of Welsh Resorts. Imagine Llandudno not just as a place but as a spirit that surrounds us. 


The colours in this piece are representative of her surroundings; the two blues of her dress are the sea and sky, the yellow and copper of her hair are the beaches and the metal historically mined in the area.

The whole composition curves from her to echo the promenade itself with its’ pastel coloured hotels and in a continuous everlasting cycle, returns to her to give again.



In her full glory.



Along the coastal curves are seaglass ‘jewels’, glass that has made its way to the sea and been tumbled and smoothed by the tide to form beautifully frosted pieces of glass. A process that takes a hundred years, these actual pieces are from the Victorian period when Llandudno made its name.

The three ‘smaller’ round windows within the work represent (top left) The Great Orme, (right) The Little Orme and (bottom left) West Shore. The word ‘Orme’ is reported to be a Scandinavian word meaning, ‘worm’ or ‘serpent’ after a legend that the Vikings approached the North Wales coast to invade at Llandudno. Through the mist they saw what they thought were two giant serpents rising up out of the sea. This was to make them turn and flee. The serpents in this piece, in the shape of everlasting celtic knots, are there to once again, ‘protect’ her (Llandudno) to eternity.

The third roundel pictures ‘Alice’ as West Shore is synonymous Lewis Carroll’s work. In ‘Through the Looking Glass’, Alice herself becomes ‘Queen’.

As to confirm her greatness, the ‘Queen’ herself wears a ‘Welsh’ red crown encrusted with green and white ‘jewels’. Confirmation that she is truly, The Queen of Welsh Resorts!