Karen Davies Stained Glass Karen Davies Stained Glass
I live and work in rural Hertfordshire and the surrounding countryside is a huge influence on my work.
My business, designing and making stained glass, began about sixteen years ago when I took a course to learn how to repair the damaged stained glass in our Edwardian home in Harpenden. I was soon completely hooked on the craft, did more and more courses to become proficient, and before long I was making windows for friends and neighbours. It was almost by accident that I found I had a thriving business on my hands. Private commissions led to public ones and I won the Hertfordshire Art in the Workplace award in 2001 for the large millennium window of a local school, which I made on site as the artist-in-residence. In fact I love working in Schools and have now made three windows involving children.
Part of my work involves repairing damaged original stained glass and I work with building developers. I use the traditional techniques of painting and firing onto glass using my kiln, and I also use the technique devised by Tiffany, known as copper foiling. I also lead teaching sessions, either in groups or individually. I try to extend my expertise by attending more courses and have become a member of the British Society of Master Glass Painters.
A very important part of my work began about ten years ago, partly as a way of using up the offcuts of glass I had amassed, when I started making a range of glass decorative items: for example mirrors, hearts, angels and tealight holders as well as Christmas items such as stars, trees and robins. This side of my business has become an increasingly large part of my work. As well as exhibiting at trade shows and fairs, I sell directly to high class galleries and gift shops. I try to use very beautiful glass in my products, sometimes incorporating antique glass. Every stage of the production process is done by hand and each piece is unique. One thing that I am increasingly hearing is how much more people are appreciating a genuine craft which is wholly British made.
View my website http://www.karendaviesstainedglass.co.uk/