Artist Statement

I’m a fused glass artist based on the Skye, and I’m inspired by the landscape, culture and heritage that give island communities a unique sense of place.

I discovered fused glass in 2018 during a weekend course, and I was immediately hooked as it brought together my background in science with a new way to be creative. Before working with glass, I spent years working in laboratories, and this experience now shapes how I approach glass. I enjoy experimenting and exploring the immense possibilities glass offers.

Alongside my glasswork, I’ve spent the last eight years working in community development, which has made me think deeply about island life and the challenges rural areas face. These experiences also shape my work, influencing what I make, why I make it, and how I share it.

My pieces are often abstract, ranging from functional to sculptural and conceptual works, using a variety of techniques and always rooted in exploration. There’s a balance between control and surprise that keeps me experimenting and passionate about glass.

I enjoy creating objects that catch attention, things that invite people to pause, talk, and reflect. The colours, textures, and our historical and current impact on the environment find their way into my work, not as direct representations, but as feelings and impressions captured in glass.

Recently, I’ve started to exhibit more widely and have been mentored by glass artist Catherine Dunstan, which has helped me grow in confidence and push my experiments further.

My next exhibition is with Visual Arts Scotland in December.

Artist CV

Current Professional Memberships

·       Artist Network     

·       Scottish Glass Society

·       Contemporary Glass Society 

Exhibitions

The Thread That Pulls                        Visual Arts Scotland. National Gallery Edinburgh – December 2025

“Phusis” has been preselected to be part of this VAS exhibition and uses glass viscosity to pull the glass towards a central point, creating stretched ribbon-like patterns.

Bizarre and Surreal                             Contemporary Glass Society.  Online exhibition – October 2025

“Sedimentality” was selected for this exhibition and was a repetitive strip construction that used colour to convey the repetition of history and conflict.

Alchemy                                                      Scottish Glass Society. Trades House Glasgow – September 2025

“Brass thistle” utilised reactive glass and metal inclusions to meet the theme of the exhibition, creating an abstract image that represented the transformations possible when working with glass.

Light and Dark                                        Contemporary Glass Society.  Online exhibition – January 2025

“Runrig at Night” was selected for the first of a series of online exhibitions to be held on the CGS website in 2025.  Runrig – A historic strip of crofting land with rotating ownership.

Thanks for the Memories                Contemporary Glass Society.  IFOG 2024, 23rd – 26th August 2024

 “Lighthouse Legacy” was selected for the CGS exhibition at the International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge.  Lighthouse Legacy was created using painted thinfire paper to create a collage of Neist Point Lighthouse which was then encapsulated within glass.

Habitats                                                       Glenmorangie, Cadboll House Hotel, Tain 24th – 25th August 2024

“Ghost Fishing” was selected to be part of a pop-up exhibition within the grounds of Cadboll House, owned by Glenmorangie Whisky.  Ghost fishing uses clear glass and discarded fishing nets to create a replica of a fishing creel and provides a visual narrative that underscores the devastating effects of ghost gear on marine habitats.

Commissions 

I have undertaken several commissions for local businesses, events and individuals, and a selection of this work can be seen on my website.

Networking/Teaching  

Lunch with a glass artist                               November 2023, Facilitator – Drilling holes in glass.

Lunch with a Glass Artist is a weekly online get-together where glass artists at all stages in their careers meet to discuss a weekly theme.  Each week is facilitated by an artist who prepares a short talk on the theme and then chairs a discussion. 

Education

Weekend introduction to Fused Glass        Teacher – Jon Piccolo, January 2018, Glasgow

Concept to Creation                                       Teacher – Bob Leatherbarrow, May 2021, Online. Warm glass UK

Am I Doing It Right?                                      Teacher – Nathan Sandberg, November 2021, Online, Warm Glass UK

Textured Powders                                           Teacher – Bob Leatherbarrow, January 2022, Online, warm glass UK

Mentoring                                                        Mentor – Catherine Dunstan, ongoing from November 2023