In 2024, I was awarded a Heritage Crafts Training Bursary to study scientific glassblowing, an endangered craft in the UK. This opportunity allowed me to develop specialist skills that are increasingly rare, while deepening my practice as a flameworker and glass artist. Creating the Endangered Crafts exhibition grew from a desire to give something back — to Heritage Crafts for their vital support and to the wider community — by sharing these skills, raising awareness of endangered glass practices and celebrating the value of traditional craftsmanship through contemporary glass work.

Endangered Crafts Exhibition

Who Is Involved

The exhibition has been developed in collaboration with Heritage Crafts, Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) and Stourbridge Glass Museum, organisations that play a vital role in supporting makers and preserving glass heritage. The programme also includes live, all-day demonstrations by Elliot Walker, showcasing the rare skill of mouth-blown sheet glass, offering audiences a unique insight into this highly specialised craft.

Selected Artists

Following a successful open call, a group of makers working across endangered and heritage glass practices have been selected to take part in the exhibition. The exhibition brings together a diverse range of artists, each exploring traditional techniques and specialist processes within their work.

Opening Day Demonstrations

The exhibition launched with a full day of live demonstrations, giving visitors the opportunity to experience endangered crafts in action.

Featured demonstrations included:

  • Elliot Walker (Blowfish Glass) – Mouth-blown sheet glass making

  • Nick Malyon & Peter Hoare – Neon making

  • Allister Malcolm – Glass cutting and fire polishing

  • Cate Watkinson – Traditional stained glass

  • Holly Parr – French beading

The demonstrations gave visitors a rare opportunity to meet the makers, ask questions and gain an insight into the skill, precision and craftsmanship behind these heritage techniques.

Exhibition Gallery

Endangered Crafts showcased over 30 artists whose work celebrated the importance of preserving traditional glassmaking skills while demonstrating how these heritage crafts continue to inspire contemporary practice.

The exhibition was created to raise awareness of the Heritage Crafts Red List and celebrate the people dedicated to ensuring these remarkable skills continue to thrive for future generations.