Blog

So Matthew, tell us how and why you got involved in stained glass and leadlight design and construction? Back at school, I always favoured the artistic and creative lessons - be it woodwork or metalwork and these were twinned with my love of art. I then went into self-employment from school - much of which involved general property maintenance and restoration. About 24 years ago, I realised I wanted something more artistic and creative in my work life which is when I came across a small stained glass studio that was exhibiting work in Wales – that was my ‘eureka’ moment!

“I was on my ride-on mower and went over a golf ball which then flew into my lead light door – shattering the glass and distorting the lead.” “Someone attempted (and failed) to break in through my stained glass front door and it’s now damaged” “My dog has jumped up at the lead light door and its claws have distorted the lead and the panel is now bowing” “My teenage son left the house in a mood – slamming the front door behind him and breaking a number of panes of glass in the process” These are just some of the scenarios that clients have approached me about over the 23+ years I have worked as a stained glass artist and lead light maker/restorer. My first words to the clients are always of reassurance that what is now broken can be fixed. The techniques I have developed and mastered enable me to effect a repair that is very often imperceptible – even to the trained eye.

Stained glass has a history which goes back thousands of years and stained glass windows in Britain can be dated back to the 7th century. Glass as a material, appears to have first been used in windows by the Romans and later, the Anglo Saxons developed the Medieval art form where coloured glass and lead were combined to create decorative windows in churches and cathedrals.

Stained glass, a traditional art form with a rich history, is making a striking comeback in contemporary home design. Today's homeowners are finding innovative ways to incorporate this timeless craft into modern aesthetics, proving that stained glass is as versatile as it is beautiful.