‘I sculpt with rods of Venetian glass in an intense flame to create jewellery and small objects of beauty. This fiery and alchemical, heritage skill is known as Lampwork or Flamework. Each glass element and bead is formed by me, in the flame. The glass is then kiln-annealed and hand-cleaned to reduce stresses and increase durability.
I came to glass fifteen years ago, via a BA Hons in Silversmithing & Jewellery, teaching art at secondary school and then curating. Over the last fifteen years I have worked principally in glass while drawing, painting and printing to explore my ideas and designs. My glass is Wearable Art, my signature ‘totem’ is a stacked sculpture of separately wearable glass elements, a vertical jewellery box.
My glass tells stories, celebrates colour, pattern, light and the beauty of the small. I am on the Crafts Council Directory, a selected member of the Suffolk Craft Society and have participated in Suffolk Open Studios for over a decade. I work from a studio in Earl Soham, take visits by appointment, teach workshops and work to commission.’
CONTACT Clare by:
email: https://www.claregaylard.com/events
website: www.claregaylard.com
