Hi Everybody, Thank you very much for taking the time to have a look at my Pozible campaign. This campaign is to enable me to attend the class ‘Your Brain on Cane’ taught by Nancy Callan at the Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, USA.

The majority of my glass has always been finished by cutting and polishing in the cold shop, since returning to the UK I have found that finishing work in this way is more of a challenge because I only have access to limited equipment. My long term goal is to start making a more personally challenging and cohesive body of blown glass work.

With my long term goal noted I have decided that this year I am going to start from scratch and develop an entirely new range of work utilising and developing my existing glass blowing skills and working with the techniques I most enjoy.



I am applying for every opportunity I can find that will allow me to learn anything and everything new and in turn this will help me to re-develop and re-focus my practice. I have been fortunate enough to be granted a place in my chosen course at the Pilchuck Glass School this summer with Nancy Callan.



Check out the Pilchuck site for more information about the campus and what they are all about Pilchuck Glass School

Nancy Callan is a highly respected and well known glass blower; she has been an assistant to Lino Tagliapietra for many years as well as exhibiting and working internationally. To take this class is going to be incredible, not only will I get to work with one of my glass heroes but I get the opportunity to develop my skill and technique at the same time. Pretty amazing, right?

To see Nancy Callan’s work please see:  www.nancycallanglass.com

As well as taking the class I get to be a part of the Pilchuck community for a couple of weeks, I can honestly say there is nothing quite like it, I will be surrounded by a huge group of insanely talented and inspirational artists and makers, I can’t think of a better way to learn new skills and develop new work.



Not only are there some fantastic rewards on offer when you pledge to support this campaign you will be helping to kick start my career in the back in UK. Having spent the last two years not working with glass, not entirely by choice but out of necessity I have firmly established that I should be making and that is what this year and all these fantastic opportunities are for, to help me get back to what I am most passionate about.

Upon my return to the UK, I am looking at taking part in a residency program, most are university based, this will give me opportunity i need to continue to develop my work but will also allow me to pass on the skills I have learnt and the knowledge I have of my favorite material. I am currently in the process of applying.

*UPDATE* Good news everyone! I have been offered a voluntary Artist in Residence position within the Edinburgh College of Art glass studio for the 2014/15 academic year. This means that all the knowledge and skill from Pilchuck is going to be put into practice as soon as I return from America! I am absolutely thrilled, thank you to everyone that has supported the campaign so far.

Thanks again for taking the time to read my spiel, now is the time to head on over and pledge to the campaign! Thanks Again.

Below is a breakdown of how I intend to use the funds raised:

Full return flights – London Heathrow – Seattle approximately £800
Return Internal Travel – Sea-Tac Airport – Stanwood £40
The remainder of the funds approximately £800 will be used to pay the remaining course fees which are around £1600 in total.

The main challenge I am going to face is raising the funds for this trip. It is expensive but you know what... It is going to be completely worth it.