Glass Maiden
Surrey Life|August 2017

Shoals of fish, tumbling leaves and rock pools in fused glass shimmer and sparkle in artist Jo Downs’ Ripley showroom. Janet Donin discovers the inspiration behind her collections

Janet Donin
Glass Maiden

We love your designs – so how did it all start?

I set up my very first studio in London in 1996, where I worked hard on making my name in fused glass. Five years later I moved to Cornwall, where I opened my first gallery selling handmade gift and interior pieces. Now, having just celebrated 20 years in handmade glass, I’m proud to have seven galleries including one in Surrey.

Tell us about your background…

I come from Leicestershire and at school I studied ceramics. My teacher Mr Clay (yes that really was his name) made me feel I had talent but during my art foundation course my tutor said that what really stood out in my ceramic work was colour and texture and suggested working with glass. I tried it, and never looked back.

Talk us through the design process...

Initially I’ll sketch out some ideas but the design process is really about experimentation and getting straight into the glass. My glass working team and I cut, craft, fire and finish everything by hand. Each piece is unique because the nature of fused glass means that tiny effects happen in the kiln, so every piece has its own special beauty.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2017-Ausgabe von Surrey Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2017-Ausgabe von Surrey Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS SURREY LIFEAlle anzeigen
The House That Rocks
Surrey Life

The House That Rocks

Transforming an impressive, seven-bedroom Victorian property in Dorking wasn’t without its challenges, but the result is a stunning family home that has had the interiors world raving

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 2020
REMEDY FOR SUCCESS
Surrey Life

REMEDY FOR SUCCESS

Surrey’s Tracy Borman discusses the return of her heroine healer in the final book of her best-selling fictional trilogy

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
Love Celia
Surrey Life

Love Celia

Actress Celia Imrie has travelled the world for work and leisure but wherever she goes there is a part of her which is forever Surrey

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH
Surrey Life

EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH

Art & Action: Making Change in Victorian Britain at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village in Compton focuses on the Victorian roots of art activism

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2020
Electric dreams
Surrey Life

Electric dreams

The Range Rover plug-in hybrid brings silent electric motoring to this iconic luxury car

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2020
THE OPEN ROAD
Surrey Life

THE OPEN ROAD

Chris Pickering rounds up some of the best drives in Surrey

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
TOWN AND COUNTRY: Oxted & Limpsfield
Surrey Life

TOWN AND COUNTRY: Oxted & Limpsfield

With the North Downs looming nearby and glorious countryside surrounding it, Oxted is a town with real “escape from London” appeal and character, while nearby Limpsfield has a superb village vibe with its own community-run pub

time-read
7 Minuten  |
November 2020
Artist to the stars
Surrey Life

Artist to the stars

Known as ‘The Face of Modern British Impressionism’, Mickleham-based Sherree Valentine Daines is celebrating four decades at the forefront of her field

time-read
8 Minuten  |
November 2020
A RIGHT ROYAL WELCOME
Surrey Life

A RIGHT ROYAL WELCOME

The Signet Collection’s inaugural hotel project is a reimagining of a former royal guest house, situated directly opposite Hampton Court Palace

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2020
TOWN AND COUNTRY: Godalming & Hascombe
Surrey Life

TOWN AND COUNTRY: Godalming & Hascombe

On the banks of the River Wey, Godalming is a watercolour pretty town surrounded by pristine countryside and in-demand rural villages, such as Hascombe

time-read
4 Minuten  |
October 2020