Design and creation of stained glass for memorials, commemorations, devotional and liturgical art.
Christian creates stained glass panels that are exhibited across the United Kingdom. Original small scale stained glass panels are exclusively available from Craft In The Bay in Cardiff.
Spanning the last twenty five years, Christian has worked on a number of award winning architectural projects.
About
Christian is an award-winning stained glass artist specialising in the design and creation of memorial, commemorative and liturgical stained glass for churches and heritage buildings.
Commissioned architectural work is always in a response to a brief, dealing with the requirements of the client and the architecture. Work is often rich with symbolism with the aim of fulfilling project vision, to strive for beauty and create work that becomes part of the architecture, therefore to harmonise and seem timeless. As such, Christian’s work draws a wide range of influences from Romanesque to Modern, from figurative to abstract and decorative, all depending on the requirements of the brief.
Smaller scale work is more personal and self-directed using symbols, motifs and text to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and Creation. It is work that expresses light, life and unity. The bird, a symbol often recurring in Christian’s work, is an everyday reminder of the link between the physical and the spiritual.
The materials and processes Christian uses are ancient and haven’t changed a great deal since medieval times. The finest traditional materials are used including mouth blown glass, which is now an increasingly scarce commodity, lead and kiln fired glass paints and stains. In the workshop you can enter a world connected with the past and tradition but also one that looks to the future as Christian is one of a few practitioners who continues this endangered craft of making architectural stained glass windows for historic buildings.
From his studio in Bridgend, South Wales he has been commissioned to create work across the United Kingdom for clients including Roman Catholic and Anglican dioceses, NHS Trusts, Local Authorities and national contractors.
After initially completion of his Art & Design Foundation Studies in Bridgend College in the late nineties, and as a way of combining his love of painting, graphics, craft and architecture, Christian went to study stained glass at Swansea College of Art. It was here he was exposed to a traditional craft education that was underpinned by a strong emphasis on drawing and painting that still informs the development of his work today.
He is an Associate Member of the British Society of Master Glass Painters and a member of the Makers Guild in Wales. He was shortlisted by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects for the Integrated Art and Architecture Award for work in health centres in Belfast and is a previous winner of the Best Maker in Wales award by Craft Festival..
Christian has also taught throughout his career and is currently programme lead for the Stained Glass Craftsperson Apprenticeship programme at Swansea College of Art, part of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
He is also research assistant for stained glass artist and historian Dr Martin Crampin from the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. They are currently working together on the Swansea Stained Glass Archive project.
Elected Associate Member of the British Society of Master Glass Painters (BSMGP).
Elected member of the Makers Guild in Wales exhibiting in Craft in the Bay, Cardiff.
“My work as a stained glass artist comes from combining my love of painting, graphics, craft and architecture. While studying at Swansea College of Art, I was exposed to a traditional craft education that was underpinned by a strong emphasis on drawing and painting that still informs the development of my work today. Nature is a primary source of inspiration; celebrating Creation and the beauty of the world around us.”
