PHOTO JOURNAL

Work in progress, behind the scenes, sources of inspiration and process pictures

Of the 25 or so square feet of glass I designed and painted for the Dublin job, this little, 18mm high, secret Ponyo hidden in the undergrowth was one of my favourite parts. Swipe to see a video of the painting in progress. . #ponyo #studioghibli #stainedglass
This guy flew off to live in a very nice part of Manhattan last week... and then swipe to see a fairly random selection of some restoration bits and pieces I’ve painted over the past couple of months for other studios, to replace damaged originals, including a another owl, a couple of birds that might be kingfishers (!) a few other non-specific birds and a rose bush. . In other news I saw The Goldfinch last week. I didn’t read any reviews beforehand, knowing that they weren’t that positive. Reader, I loved it. I thought it captured the book perfectly. I watched most of the film through a layer of watery, bifocal tears. Whenever I’m trying to copy these little Victorian birds, with their piercing eyes, and their cocked, inquisitive heads, I always think of that little painting. #stainedglass #stainedglassrestoration
The last of the 3 windows for Dublin. This is the upper section -the glass used is all Polish mouth-blown (in graduated shades of blue and turquoise) and golly gosh does it look magical when the sun streams through it. #stainedglass
Some birds in progress - cut, painted and ready to be leaded up for @newbreweryarts Christmas exhibition. . (Sorry if I offended anyone by breaking out the C word). . #stainedglass
This isn’t the 3rd and final window for Dublin, but it is a sweet commemorative panel I was commissioned to make recently for a Golden wedding anniversary. . The brief was to include some wild garlic flowers (an in-joke of the family), so I popped a sprig in amongst a posy in a golden mug with some other favourite spring-time flowers. . Painting the background black gave the delicate shapes of the leaves and petals space, as well as making the colours “pop”. . I am 100% into making more windows like this, such a joy to make 🌿 . #stainedglass
If you were ever curious how many times I like to say “you know” in a sentence (clue: it’s a lot) you can now find out. I was recently interviewed by the brilliant @creativewomeninternational for her excellent podcast and the episode is now live. In it we discuss getting started in stained glass, using social media to raise your profile, juggling a creative career while raising kids and launching a side hustle (as the cool kids call it these days). I’ll put a swipe-up link in my stories, and there’s also a link in my profile. #stainedglass #backherbusiness #creativewomeninternational
The full window 🌊🌸🗻 . #stainedglass
Close up of the second of the three windows for Dublin. The brief for this was a wave with sea creatures below. The client had spent some time in Japan, so also wanted the design to include some references to that - Mount Fuji, cherry blossom etc. #stainedglass
Here’s the (nearly) full length window (although I wish I had a better picture without the bright sun bleaching out some of the detail on the leaves at the top 😣) . #stainedglass
Lower section of the first of three windows for a private house in Dublin. . The theme for this window was a lush garden, and the client asked if a few of the family’s favourite Studio Ghibli characters could be hidden amongst the undergrowth. Here you can just spot Big Totoro, Little Totoro and Catbus. Elsewhere, Ponyo and Sosuke play hide and seek. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed painting, well the whole window, but especially these little characters... we are also big fans of the films of Hayao Miyazaki in our house. . #stainedglass
Got back from Ireland at 2.45am this morning after an epic 42 hour round trip fitting the finished 3 windows with the unflappable @steverosestainedglass, who did top-notch driving, window-fitting and mint imperial sharing. Will post pics of the finished windows soon. . #stainedglass
So here’s a couple of pictures of that big window I made earlier this year. It was an unusual brief, including the Yorkshire countryside, a David Hockney colour palette, a rabbit, a pair of my contemporary birds, and yes, a massive shotgun leaning against a tree. Ok. Sure. Not a problem* Big thanks again to @andrew_brepi_stained_glass for fantastic lead work, encapsulation, and general saving of the day when everything went a bit wrong en route to installation 🙈 #stainedglass #contemporarystainedglass .* No I am not a fan of guns, but I am a fan of fulfilling briefs 🙃
Final (🤞🏼) firing on the final panel for Dublin. Just need to add a little bit of silver stain on the tips of these primrose buds to turn them yellow. . Will be delivering the three panels across the Irish Sea in a couple of weeks. Pray for good weather for the ferry crossing! 🤢 . And then on to a few other projects that have been patiently waiting. . #stainedglass
Still here... still painting leaves... . #stainedglass
Taking a much needed break this week. It’s been a full-on few months, but feeling like I can almost see the finish line. Almost. . #stainedglass #stainedglassartist #stainedglassstudio #studioscenes #artistsstudio #dmcreativespaces #themakerspost #wearethemakers #makersmovement #craftandfolk #dslooking #makersworkshop #myhandsmaking #makersandthinkers #makersandcreators #creativespace #handsthatmake #florajamieson #craftandfolk #heritageinspired
Some work in progress pictures... the last image shows the window being leaded up by @steverosestainedglass, who is helping out on this rather epic project. . Happy weekend all! . #stainedglass #stainedglassartist #stainedglassstudio #wearethemakers #makersmovement #craftandfolk #modernmaker #makersandthinkers #moderncreative #heritageinspired #heritagecraft #traditionalcraft #themakerspost #craftsman #moderncraft #showyourwork #florajamieson #theworldofinteriors
Having a little fist-bump moment with myself because I’ve (finally) finished all the painting on this window. I’ll show a lightbox pic soon! . #stainedglass #stainedglassartist #stainedglassstudio #wearethemakers #makersmovement #craftandfolk #modernmaker #makersandthinkers #moderncreative #heritageinspired #heritagecraft #traditionalcraft #themakerspost #craftsman #moderncraft #showyourwork #theworldofinteriors #florajamieson #studioscenes #artistsstudio #dmcreativespaces
Apple tree branches in progress. I do love this graduated red flash from @lambertsglas that I’ve used for the apples. I think it might be my favourite glass and I hope they never stop making it 🍎 . #stainedglass #stainedglassartist #stainedglassstudio #wearethemakers #makersmovement #craftandfolk #modernmaker #makersandthinkers #moderncreative #heritageinspired #heritagecraft #traditionalcraft #themakerspost #craftsman #moderncraft #showyourwork #theworldofinteriors #florajamieson #lambertsglass
“I'm never sure one is exactly ready. You jump in, with both feet, into a very big fish pond.” . Thanks Julie Andrews, that’s sound advice, which is keeping me going as I’m making progress on this window. . #stainedglass #stainedglassartist #stainedglassstudio #wearethemakers #makersmovement #craftandfolk #modernmaker #makersandthinkers #moderncreative #heritageinspired #heritagecraft #traditionalcraft #themakerspost #craftsman #moderncraft #showyourwork #theworldofinteriors #florajamieson #alwaysbeknolling #knolling
Wow so it turns out my painting posture is pretty awful. Quasimodo called, he wants his hunch back 😬 . Anyway, I’m working my way through the painting of this pond-themed window. I love it when my two favourite things collide (#stainedglass + #wildswimming). Although I have to confess I have never actually found a goldfish pond big enough to swim in. But if I did I totally would. Slide left to see my idol. . Portrait by @mollybruceinteriors, stained glass panel by W.G. Morton. . #stainedglassstudio #studioscenes #artistsstudio #dmcreativespaces #themakerspost #wearethemakers #makersmovement #craftandfolk #makersworkshop #myhandsmaking #creativespace #florajamieson #craftandfolk #heritageinspired #heritagecraft #traditionalcraft #worldofinteriors #showyourwork