Artist Autobiography

I stumbled into the world of glass quite by accident. In 2008, I enrolled in an evening class at the International Glass Centre in Brierley Hill. It didn’t take long for me to become captivated by lampworking, so much so that I set up a torch in my garden shed. I named my first business “The Glass Shed.”

As my passion grew, I quickly outgrew the shed and started seeking ways to showcase my work. In 2010, I decided to reduce my hours as a teaching assistant for children with multiple learning difficulties (MLD) and began sharing a studio at the Red House Glass Cone with my good friend Jane. We sold our creations through our studio, gallery shops, museums, online, and participated in several exhibitions.

In 2015, Russ and I had the privilege of holding our very special wedding at the Cone. Soon after, Jane and I partnered with Charlotte Hughes Martin, moved into a much larger studio, and founded Glass Quarter Designs. From there, we designed, created, and sold our glass art while also hosting regular workshops.

In 2024, a London jewelry designer reached out to me to develop and produce glass for her collections. While exciting, I knew I needed help. Then, one April day, just as I was on the verge of giving up, a lovely lady named Cisne walked in. She was equally excited to talk to me, as she, too, was a lampworker. She pulled out her phone and showed me exactly what I had been struggling with! She explained that she hadn’t been able to make glass for several years after relocating to the UK. It felt like a dream, and we’ve been working together ever since.

In early 2025, we were thrilled to be approached by the Ruskin Glass Centre to take on a studio and collaborate with students from the incredible Ruskin Mill College. It was a big decision to leave Jane and Charlotte at the Red House Glass Cone, but we made the choice to open our new studio at the Ruskin Glass Centre in July 2025.

I am the proud mother of three amazing children, living in Surrey, Birmingham, and Taiwan, and a grandmother to two, soon to be four, lovely grandchildren. I’m an avid crocheter, a passionate dog lover, and a collector of many things. My husband, Russ, and I enjoy traveling around in our camper van, and we visit Taiwan regularly to see my family there.

Cisne and I are excited to see what the future holds for us and our new business venture. We hope you’ll join us on this creative journey!