My project to create The Blue Ground Beetle in glass.
In 2024, I was awarded a QEST Scholarship, which enabled me to train with four glass masters, each teaching specific techniques essential to creating a glass insect. The funding supported a total of 20 days of intensive learning, which kick-started…
Helga introduced me to the foundational processes of warm glass. Under her guidance, I learned how to fuse, slump, and cast glass elements — developing the forms and textures that would later define the beetle’s body. Her teaching was instrumental in helping me understand how colour and heat interact to produce subtle surface effects reminiscent of the beetle’s natural iridescence.
With Scott, I developed the hot glass elements of the project. Scott’s expertise in making rondels and complex pick-ups was invaluable for creating the layered, translucent forms that mimic the beetle’s exoskeleton. His mentorship encouraged precision and experimentation, bridging the technical and the artistic.
Working alongside Andrea Spencer was the perfect match — her flamework skills were exactly what was needed to bring the insect’s intricate appendages to life. Andrea is one of the foremost flame-work artists on the international glass scene, teaching and demonstrating around the world from her studio in Northern Ireland.
Working with Steve (www.stevefrey.co.uk) refined my understanding of cold glass processes. Together, we focused on finishing techniques, polishing, and structural joins — essential for both the durability and presentation of the final sculpture.
Film by Charlie Murphy charting my journey in the making of The Blue Ground Beetle in Glass.