Mike Hunter- Modern Twist on Traditional Glassblowing Techniques

What began as a childhood fascination for glass artist Mike Hunter became his self-taught profession. His work is proof of his dedication to the traditional techniques of the Italian masters and he is known for creating historically technical, gorgeous modern glasswork that has not been used commercially since the Victorian era. He describes his work as ‘…individual and contemporary blown vessels of elaborate adornment.’

Mike began his training as an apprentice at Wedgwood Glass of Kings Lynn, Norfolk from the age of seventeen. Even there the masters couldn’t answer his questions about the details of how some glasswork was made, and since then it became his mission to learn glassblowing techniques that would otherwise be lost through disuse. Mike views his experience in trial and error learning to have been invaluable to his current work. He said that ‘people’s conception of an artist usually revolve around some form of training’ but for him training is akin to restriction, and being self-taught he is able to set his own restrictions and limitations by what he can achieve in his work.

He now has his own studio, Twists Glass Studio, in Selkirk, which he opened in 1998. His favoured techniques involve cane-working, (working with rods of coloured glass) and he bases his pieces on the traditional designs of glassblowers from 16th and 17th century Italy and 18th century England. Through seven years of experimentation and dedication he has brought back the near lost technique of embedding coloured glass canes into the stems of glasses and tableware, such as these pieces in Artery Gallery.

He is also known for his use of zanfirico glassblowing, for which he has received numerous awards, including twice being named a finalist for the Glass Technology Award, among others, Zanfirico is an Italian decorative glassblowing technique involving intricate patterns of coloured glass canes arranged and twisted to comprise a pattern within a single glass cane. These new patterned canes are then used to create a glass work, such as the Zanfirico Vase displayed at Artery Gallery.

We have several pieces by Mike Hunter, as well as other glass artists, at Artery Gallery. Mike’s vases are consistently popular, especially his Zanfirico vase, and his impeccable technique makes the colour appear to be floating, supported by clear glass. It is the zanfirico technique that gives the smooth glass vase a textured, woven appearance. Another of Mike’s eye-catching vases is his Murrine Vase, which is made of brightly coloured cross sections of canes, forming unique patterns on a smooth surface.

Glass art has the advantage of being both practical and beautiful by nature. At Artery we also have a selection of his glassware and other table art, including a variety of wine glasses, pitchers and decanters, all painstakingly handmade of the finest quality. His wine glasses are made with intertwined coloured rods forming the interior of the stems. Additionally we have a collection of his Milli pieces, which is a term used to describe glass decorated with slices of coloured canes embedded in clear molten glass, which produces a distinctive decorative pattern of glassware that often resembles flowers. The Milli pieces displayed in Artery include tumblers, tall glasses as well as a pitcher, bright and summery, perfect for an outdoor party.

Knowing the techniques and the precision behind Mike’s glass work, one can better appreciate the handmade designs and patterns in each of his pieces. Pop in to Artery and have a look at Mike’s work. You may possibly find your own piece of traditional, modern glasswork.

www.arteryuk.com

Summer success for Joia Glass Art

'Waves' wall plaque - glass on white-washed wood

Summer may have been a bit wet and wild this year, but it hasn't dampened our summer tourism. St Andrews has been busy as usual, despite the lack of sunshine!

Two of our artists - a husband and wife, working together as design team 'Joia Glass Art' have had particular success this season, with sailing and sea themed glass.

Joia Glass Art originally joined Artery Gallery last summer, and have had sell out success with each collection since - and have continually expanded their collection of work with us.

Recent additions to their glass sculptures have included tealights and wall plaques. Both are a unique design - the tealights are split into two parts, so can be used as one large or two small tealights, and the wall plaques feature their glass 'Regatta' sculptures mounted on fresh white-washed wood.
Their full collection of work can be viewed on our website, or in our gallery in St Andrews

www.arteryuk.com

Mike Hunter's Award Winning 'Zanfirico' Glass

Mike Hunter - Zanfirico glass bowl

The highly collectible work of multi-award winning glass artist Mike Hunter of Selkirk, really is of the finest quality, each beautiful piece is hand crafted and intricately designed with great care and attention to detail. He has a real passion for working with glass, which shows in the quality and defines his years of experience gained from working with some of the finest glassmakers, including Wedgwood and Perthshire Paperweights.

The Zanfirico glass blowing technique, is a highly skilled process and a specialty of Mike Hunter’s that has earned him the 2009 BCTF Award for Excellence in design, innovation and creativity.

‘Zanfirico’ is the more commonly used term for the extremely technical glass blowing process of Twisted Filigree (Filigrana a retortoli).

Filigree, is a general term used to describe embedded threads or ribbons of coloured glass, either in parallel or network patterns. The Filigree cane is melted into the glass mass and re-pulled, often twisting as the cane is stretched.

Mike Hunter has been taught by some of the worlds greatest glassblowers and has developed his own unique style. His work includes both functional and decorative pieces.

Mike has received high recognition and exhibited his work throughout Scotland and England, most notably at the Victoria and Albert Museum. His beautiful creations are stocked at the most exclusive outlets in major cities such as New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris and of course right here at Artery Gallery in St Andrews.

www.arteryuk.com

New Glass Artist at Artery Gallery - Mike Hunter

Multi-award winning glass artist Mike Hunter of Selkirk, on the Scottish Borders, is the latest exhibitor at Artery Gallery in St Andrews and Crieff. Mikes work really is of the finest quality, each beautiful piece is hand crafted and intricately designed with great care and attention to detail. He has a real passion for working with glass, which shows in the quality and defines his years of experience gained from working with some of the finest glassmakers.

He began his love affair with glass as a small boy, gazing with fascination at the colourful, magical twists contained in the marbles he played with. Later, as a 17-year-old apprentice with Wedgwood Glass of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, he remembers asking the master glassblowers how the intricately designed glasses he had seen at the museums were made. None of them could tell him.

It struck him then just how many skills of the 18th century were being lost as more and more machines were introduced to glassmaking, and he determined right then to figure out how they were made and to see if he could learn the techniques himself. On many trips to the museum, without being able to pick up the glasses, he peered into the display cabinets and took notes. After seven years of trial and error at the factory during his lunch breaks, he succeeded in perfecting a technique of embedding coloured glass canes and air into the stems of glassware – a technique not used commercially since Victorian times.

Mike went on to spend 11 years with Wedgwood, training under master glassblowers from the UK, Italy, Austria, Germany and Scandinavia, and attaining the position of master glass blower and coloured animal maker.

At his studio in Selkirk, Mike produces designs with cane-working techniques, creating traditional contemporary glassware styles based on the designs of 16th and 17th century Venice and 18th century England. He created his flagship technique of “vetro”, the Italian for glass, which demonstrates the combination of his natural talent for design with the highest level of technical skill. The result is a vast array of colour in design that speaks of his unique relationship with glass; the glass on the blowing iron becomes one with Mike as, with a sense of ease and speed, the molten glass is commanded into form – his “vetro”.

Mike has received high recognition and exhibited his work throughout Scotland and England. As well as a commission for Lord and Lady Milburn of Paxton House, Berwick-on-Tweed, he was invited to provide reproduction glasses for the Hornblower series on ITV, and he designed the trophies for the Scottish Businesswomen’s Association Awards in 1998 and 1999. His beautiful creations are stocked at the most exclusive outlets: Asprey and Garrards, New York and London, Harrods of Knightsbridge, The Room in Chelsea, Wing On Hong Kong, and Cameo in Paris.

www.arteryuk.com