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 an idea inspired by forms and patterns that catch his eye, be it in nature or architecture. After sketching the initial designs, he progresses through experimentation with the glass and making a 3D form. These initial prototypes are then further refined to produce the final piece.
Stuart's latest 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 Venetian, Swedish and English 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 Sunderland and he opened his own hot studio in Nottingham in 2000.