Enter the fantasy world of Gloria MacArthur’s light filled studio in leafy Hertfordshire and admire the fabulous glasswork dangling from the ceiling, the funky jewellery and bright dazzling bowls glinting on the open shelves.
All work is fired in the kiln, where coloured frit glass in sand or egg shell form, is usually fused between two layers of sheet glass to make weird and wonderful artefacts. Gloria has been practising as a glass artist for fifteen years and specialises in using float, bullseye, andMurano glass. She can also casts sculptures using Gaffa glass.
Her cosy, intimate studio is tucked away in the beautiful grounds of Ponsbourne Manor, in the lovely village of Newgate Street twenty miles from London and four miles from the M25. The perfect setting to relax and meet other people.
Gloria grew up in Huddersfield in the industrial North. Here, creativity thrived and flourished in the home environment. Artistic crafts and skills were passed on and encouraged by both parents. Her father was a loom tuner in a textile mill, who often experimented at home, making objects in wood. From an early age, she too became fascinated by this, as well as the medium of textiles and collage. All of her three sisters were very artistic. Their mother, recognised the combined talents of her daughters, and entered them in art competitions which the Drurey girls often won.
Gloria worked in the mill for three and a half years, before deciding to gain the qualifications for a career combining teaching and art. Eventually the bright lights of Brighton beckoned! Her final exam degree piece was a soft sculpture of an enormous chain hanging down with a broken piece on the ground. For many years she was a successful Head of Art, becoming fascinated eventually by a love of glass and the new opportunities presented, to experiment with glass artefacts at the University of Hertfordshire.
The courses offered in Gloria’s studio are, a whole day with lunch, (£70) or a half day (£40), for up to four people. The next one is Sunday 29th May followed by Thursday 16th June. Perfect for a group of friends, an individual, a birthday gift or any other special occasion. Different levels of ability are catered for and there is much individual attention from this superb contemporary artist, who enjoys passing on her many skills.
The emphasis will be on learning glass techniques, such as cutting, slumping, using different moulds and a wide variety of materials. People go home with at least three items such as a funky glass mirror frame, a quirky piece to display in the window or hang on the wall, or maybe a striking pendant or earrings.
Gloria also offers longer courses at the Courtyard Arts Centre in Hertford, where students can develop extension skills. Her eye catching pieces have been displayed at the Cambridge Glass fair, the Knebworth Glass Fair and the Herford Art Trail.
As I gaze around the studio, my eyes are drawn upwards to the soft blue and white shining glass of a boat set in driftwood, spinning above my head. If I don’t leave with that piece, or one of Gloria’s abstract clock designs, her latest project, I will be most surprised!
Inspiration comes from many sources. One, the colours and images of the English landscape, the famous glass artist Dale Chihuly, and the Japanese artist Hokusai renowned for his images of Mount Fuji.
So, if you are seeking fun and inspiration, or feel the desire to learn a new skill, this talented glass artist with a contemporary vibe will be the right person to ‘fire’ and develop your imagination.
To contact Gloria for a commission or take part in a course email her at gloria.macarthur@btinternet.com or phone her on 01707870734.