Shirley G Whitby

Glass has been special to me over many years. I have a particular interest and passion for kiln formed glass, predominantly making vessels and small decorative objects as well as small items of jewellery. I also do some glass casting and pate de verre. I love the pleasure, calm, and opportunities for exploration that working with glass brings me. Following an accident I have had eighteen months of limitation and have only just started a return to full use of mt right arm. Happily this has afforded me the opportunity to find ways of working with glass that has not involved cutting it. I have had a lot of fun learning about doing things differently and discovering new methods of working. Going forwards my approach is to focus on working slowly, playing, being undeterred by pieces not being quite as anticipated, and using up excess glass which I no longer view as scrap.

My studio old small studio has been replaced by a new one. Tucked away at the end of the garden it is approached through the vegetable and cutting flower garden. I have 2 kilns, a sandblaster 2 workbenches a lot of tools and a good stock of glass. When the weather is nice I am able to work outside where it’s always a pleasure to hear the many birds in our woodland singing.