Katharine Coleman
I like to teach on a one to one basis round the workshop, with regular breaks for illustrated topics and class discussion. I provide demonstrations and practical notes when and where required. Students’ drawing skills and close observation are greatly encouraged.
What will students gain if they come on one of your courses?Hopefully students will progress their understanding of and practical skills in glass engraving. Students will also further their appreciation of glass as a material for engraving, the many techniques which can be used to engrave on glass and design considerations for these.
Are there any particular techniques/processes you use in your teaching?Demonstration, illustration, guidance and advice. With the time constraints of a weekend, most work will focus on engraving using hand tools and flexible drive drills.
What inspires your own work?The inspiration for my work ranges widely from natural history to the modern urban landscape. Glass as a material is also fascinating and inspiring.
Where can students see examples of your work?On my website and in some galleries, Contemporary Applied Arts in London and The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh, for example. Some museums have examples of my work – see website and list below.
Where did you gain your training/experience?I was taught glass engraving by Peter Dreiser at MorleyCollege and have no qualifications in engraving. I was elected a Fellow of the Guild of Glass Engravers in 2001, a member of Contemporary Applied Arts in 2004 and The Art Workers Guild in 2005.
What teaching experience have you had?I learned to teach following Peter Dreiser’s example, taking over his classes at Morley College, London 1998-2005, and now teach short courses in the UK, Germany (summer course at BildWerk Frauenau) and Spain (San Ildefonso de La Granja, Segovia).
Is your work in any public or private collections?Many private collections. Public collections:
Alexander Tutsek Stiftung, Munich
BroadfieldHouseGlassMuseum
Keatley Trust
Birmingham City Art Gallery & Museum
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (Keatley Trust)
GlassMuseum, Kamenicky ?enov, Czech Republic
Dan Klein Associates (private)
Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg
Museo de la Real Fabrica de Cristales de La Granja, Spain
National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh
Northlands Creative Glass Centre, Lybster
Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
Victoria & Albert Museum, South Kensington, London
I assisted in the re-writing of the second edition of Peter Dreiser and Jonathan Matcham: Techniques of Glass Engraving, 2nd edition, A&C Black London 2006
Made for You, DVD of six makers, all members of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen, 2005 (see www.guildcrafts.org.uk)
July/Aug 2004 Crafts magazine feature by Ruth Pavey “Cutting It Fine”, 5 pages, illustrations, pp 30-35.
Glass Now profiling the eight finalists of the Jerwood Applied Arts Prize 2003, produced by Illuminations, VHS and PAL format video and DVD (details from www.illumin.co.uk or illuminations@illumin.co.uk
Do you belong to any professional groups/societies?Guild of Glass Engravers
Art Workers Guild
Contemporary Glass Society
Contemporary Applied Arts