Give us an overview of your glass art and why it is your chosen medium
The stained glass I create is painted using traditional glass paint. This makes it different from plain colour glass, which is a different technique to many glass artists, and is rooted in tradition.
I have always been a creative person, so the idea that I could paint pictures on glass was really appealing.
My background has predominantly been self-employed and for many years I ran a specialist sugarcraft and traditional sweet shop. I taught sugarcraft and gave demonstrations both in the UK and overseas. I wrote three books, produced six videos on sugarcraft, and was a regular contributor to sugarcraft magazines. Sadly, shopping habits changed and after over 30 years I had to make the decision to close the shop. I had always been interested in stained glass, but never had the time to try it. Before I left the shop, I took a course on cutting and leading glass, which I really enjoyed. I then discovered traditional glass painting. I just took to it! I love it and the challenge it brings.
You use traditional methods – why is that important to you?
Heritage crafts are something that I feel very strongly about. If people don’t do them and pass on their knowledge, they and all the industries associated with them will die out. By doing stained glass painting, using the traditional methods and materials, I can, in some small part, help keep it alive. The more I learn, the more I can pass on. It is a very ancient craft – not much has changed since medieval times. Someone from that period would recognise the techniques I use.
By doing it and talking about it, I hope to I increase people’s interest in the craft. I have plans to start teaching in the future.
What sort of people have you had buy your art?
I use a lot of handmade, mouthblown glass, which is beautiful. This appeals to those who appreciate traditional skills and artistry. Sometimes people buy it because they love it!
Where in Suffolk are you based and does the county inspire your work?
I live right on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, on the edge of a nature reserve. My studio looks down onto the reed bed, where there is a lot of wildlife. When I walk down to the studio, it is not unusual to find birds, deer and squirrels pottering about. It’s like a scene from Snow White!
It was a very interesting time – hard work but I really enjoyed it. It was 11 months from applying for the show to broadcast! The filming was at Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire, which is beautiful. Most of the time was spent working, but I met the production team, the film crew I was working with and a few of the other contributors. Derek Hunt, a renowned stained glass artist, was my mentor. He is a very talented man, with incredible skill and knowledge of stained glass. I was with him at the Gardens, and also went to his studio in Leicester a couple of times, where I learned more about glass painting, silver stain and enamelling, as well as more about glass cutting and leading. I stay in touch with Derek, which is both really helpful and a nice thing to be able to do. I also met Dominic Chinea, who both presents at and works on the Repair Shop. He has a real enthusiasm for arts and crafts; how they are done and what tools you use. He has a natural ability to put you at your ease.
I have not only improved my creative skills, but also my business, marketing and technical knowledge.
What kind of reaction did you get after the show aired?
Very good! I have had a lot of genuine interest, positivity and support. You can still see the show on BBC iPlayer – Make It at Market, series 3, episode 13.
For more information, visit clairewebbstainedglass.com
