Inspiration

Born in Cardiff, South Wales, and now based in Llantrisant, Ray Skene is a full time lampwork glass artist..

When his daughter, Ceri, graduated in Ceramics in 1998, Ray leant a hand with her first major craft exhibition, thus she became his inspiration. After seeing how the public warmed to her fabulous sculptured works of real life models and animals, he knew that his daughter was his inspiration to learn a kindred craft. Ceri encouraged her father to try working with ceramic clay, but he felt it was a ‘messy modelling material.’
Whilst still experimenting to discover what suited him, Ray took weekend classes at Stourbridge Glass Quarter to study the art of hot glass, as well as with the ICG – International College of Glass.

“Working with the furnace and making large glass paperweights and hollow ware is great fun…it soon became obvious that having a furnace full of molten glass in my house, was not an option.”

Fortunately, one of the teachers at the glass college had the foresight to show Ray the lamp-work room.

The room was deserted and it seemed to be one of the less favoured skills to learn, but that failed to deter him.

“It seemed the obvious quick fix to get cold glass melted very quickly and formed into what ever you desire".

This is where the hard work started – learning all the skills required to handle glass when it melts like toffee would take months. It could take years to embrace the hundreds of techniques and tricks required to design a satisfactory art form.

Exploration in glass heaven

Finding a lamp-work teacher was difficult in the beginning, but now Ray feels there are many more unique opportunities, with teachers around the country and some of those teaching at established glass suppliers. Ray practiced solely for two years before meeting tutor Diana East, near Leicester. He soon realised that formal tuition exposed many weaknesses and revealed dozens of design techniques that he’d never considered – techniques that unearth your own creativity in a montage of swirling colours and shapes that finds you rushing home to experiment in your own studio.

“Even if I lived to be 200, I’d never learn all of the derivations of colours, shapes and techniques that await the artistic mind.”

Amazed that any one would wish to learn from him, the initial lessons he has taught were very basic, some 6 years ago he considered himself a novice. He taught only one-on-one or two at most as the teaching process requires close observation and a careful overview of the students needs. Ray estimates that he has taught over 400 students until now and is always eager to emphasise the importance of health and safety.

The creation of simple glass beads is not that hard, given some basic tuition – tuition that should always commence with safety training.

Glass rods are now readily available in any colour to be able to make glass beads and small sculptures, plus lamp-working torches and equipment. Teaching art glass is for him like giving a gift in return for the immense fun he's had using this fantastic medium – he wants to pass this unique skill on. Classes now include around 6 students at a time, in a well -equipped studio at Model House Craft and Design Centre, Llantrisant.

Ray trained both in the UK and on the Island of Murano Venice - Learning and sharing will continue for all time.