About the Artist
Stuart Akroyd is an award-winning studio glass designer-maker based in the UK. He creates forms in vibrant colours and organic shapes. Instantly identifiable his work possesses a sense of movement and grace within the solid form.
Stuart’s designs begin with inspiration from the world around him, after sketching out the initial ideas the next stage is experimenting with the hot glass and making 3D forms. These glass prototypes are then further refined to produce the final piece.
Stuart’s sculptural pieces titled ‘Intention’ are a perfect example of this; a solid stretched form encasing vibrant colours and presented on a steel stand.
These one-off pieces were inspired by the Skylon structure which became the symbol of the 1951 Festival of Britain (the celebration of British design during a period of post war hope and austerity, which was an incredibly creative time). Stuart wanted to reflect this in his new pieces. The form is made using Swedish techniques with his personal adaptations. The central jewel like core is cut open to expose this multitude of technical detail.
Stuart has been making glass for over 30 years. His glassmaking career began in the North East of England learning the basics on the BA(hons) course at Sunderland University, followed by a Post Graduate Diploma at the International Glass Centre, Brierley Hill. A stint as head maker at an established glass makers lead to starting his own business in 1991.
