Caroline Rees

My approach to glass design is from the perspective of a Printed Textile Designer.

Having graduated from Brighton in Textiles in the 1980’s, I discovered more recently that the process of applying sandblasted decoration to glass is much the same as that of screenprinting.

I love the process of making, and have applied a traditional technique in a contemporary way to create modern designs on glass which combine beauty, craftsmanship, function, and utility.

Specialising in sandblasting without colour, the emphasis on each piece is focused on drawing, composition and the quality of the line. (I continue to marvel at the fine detail that can be achieved with this technique).

Inspiration is diverse and often surprising – from the shadow cast upon a whitewash wall by a leafy plant, or the regimented repeat of traditional embroidered textiles; a beautiful mark within a contemporary painting, through to the juxtaposition of a solid mass against a fine intricate line.

The versatility of the technique allows me to create glass which is almost opaque with a carved 3d effect, and decorative glass which is semi-transparent. Under certain light conditions, the semi transparent glass has the exciting effect of projecting the pattern onto surrounding surfaces which move and distort as the light changes. Mirror is also given the same decorative treatment, again with interesting effects on light in the vicinity

Each commission elicits an individual response and is created in collaboration with the client in relation to it’s function, location and surroundings. Following discussion, a theme or preference often emerges and leads my work in new and unexpected directions.