We joined glassblowers Charlotte Hughes Martin and Caroline Scully for a practical introduction to working with glass.

This workshop was designed to give practising artists, designers and creatives an opportunity to get hands on experience of hot and cold glass-working techniques and processes, alongside technical information to give you a broad introduction to the possibilities, and limitations, of this versatile material.

We covered everything from cutting, gluing and cold-working glass to the basic principles of hot working processes including blowing and casting. The workshop was based at the Red House Glass Cone, a historic facility at the centre of the Stourbridge Glass Quarter and the day included time in the hot glass studio with hands on glass blowing. Truly hot stuff!

Charlotte Hughes Martin graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2000 with a Degree in Glass, Architectural Glass and Ceramics. After spending time as a hot glass studio team member at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland she moved to the USA graduating with an MFA Art from Ohio State University in 2006. She took up residency of her own studio at the Red House Glass Cone in January 2008. She has exhibited her work internationally and was included in ‘25 Years of New Glass Review’ by Tina Oldknow.

Caroline Scully first started working with glass as part of her degree in 3D Design at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2000. After graduating in 2003 she went on to spend two years developing her skills and understanding of glass at the International Glass Centre, Brierley Hill where she gained experience in a diverse range of glass disciplines including technology of glass, stained glass, kiln formed glass, bead making, cold working and glass blowing. She is based at the Red House Glass Cone.

This event is part of a series which dives deeper into one process or material. We’re teaming up with some of Birmingham’s most interesting and established makers and manufacturers to give you a chance to see production processes in action, explore new materials and ask all the questions you can think of. This programme is subsidised by Arts Council England.