Kiln-formed glass made in Sussex by Becky H
THE BEACHSIDE KILN
Connecting folklore, science and the natural world through glass
ME AND MY WORK
I fell in love with glass during a trip to the Kosta Boda glass blowing factory in Sweden at the age of 10. A brief flirtation with glass blowing several years later proved that a love for making was definitely there, but also that hot shop glass isn't a practical home hobby! I eventually invested in a kiln and now mainly produce decorative glass vessels using a specific kiln-forming technique that gives fused glass a look and feel close to that of blown glass.
My work explores the relationship between folklore, the natural world and science: Everything from Ley Lines to reflecting pools; the turn of the seasons to the planting cycles that provide our food; the origin of medicines to the life-sustaining wonder of fungi and lichens. Just like the environments that influence my designs, my work is tactile as well as visual: It invites you to look, feel and form a connection that captures your imagination, hopefully for years to come.
MY PROCESS
MATERIALS
I work almost exclusively with Bullseye Glass, which is handcrafted in Portland, USA. I buy my supplies in the UK from a B Corp company, so I can be sure of transparency around their social and environmental impact.
My glass vessels are made using Bullseye sheet glass and glass powders. For seasonal and small decorations I often use picture frame glass, which I collect throughout the year; your broken picture frame is my Christmas star! Sustainability and recycling are important to me and this is one way I can demonstrate that in my practice.
DESIGN
I use colour, texture and shape to tell stories that people can form a joyous connection to. The tales behind most of my pieces are rooted in the relationship between folklore, nature and science. If the viewer is drawn to that as well as to the piece itself, that's an extra bonus!
Many things help me design my pieces including sketches, photos, found objects, folktales and local history, as well as knowledge of the chemistry and physics of glass. I really enjoy both the creative and the technical challenges of glasswork.
WHERE TO FIND ME
2025
Ongoing: Gigglewick Gallery, Worthing West Sussex
January, June/July, September/October: Gallery UNO - Sussex Arts Collective, Seaford East Sussex
March 11th-23rd: South Downs Artists small group show at The Crypt, Seaford East Sussex
May: Shoreham Art Gallery (Guest Artist), Shoreham West Sussex
November-December: Gallery BN5, Henfield West Sussex
2024
October: The Sussex Contemporary 2024 - Newhaven Marine Workshops. Selected dates, click here for details
July - end September: Gallery BN5, Henfield West Sussex
May: Artists Open Houses, Brighton, Bluebell Would - Venue 9, West Hove Arts Trail
March 22-28: South Downs Artists Same Sky, Different Eye small group exhibition - Crypt Gallery, Seaford East Sussex
Past events: 2021-2023
Artists Open Houses Brighton (2021-2024) Bluebell Would - West Hove Arts Trail
ArtWave Festival 2023 Victoria Pavillion Arts - Venue 24, Uckfield East Sussex
South Downs Artists 2023 Celebrating the South Downs exhibition - Crypt Gallery, Seaford East Sussex
Brighton Craft Fair 2021 Beyond and Above Exhibition - Crypt Gallery, Seaford East Sussex
FIRING
My work is fired in a specialist glass kiln. Most of my pieces go through three or four firings each to set patterns and shape the glass. I hand make most of the moulds and apertures that I use to form my glass vessels. The image above shows you how the glass vessels form by 'dropping' through an aperture in response to heat and gravity. Kiln-forming is a true slow craft, encompassing many processes, each one rewarding.
FINISHING
I finish (or 'coldwork') my vessels by hand using silicon carbide grits and diamond-coated handpads; thankfully I do actually enjoy the repetitive motion of hand-lapping! It takes up to 3 hours to smooth and bevel the rim and level the base of each glass vessel; there's always a sense of achievement at the end of the process.
CONTACT ME
To enquire about a piece or discuss a commission, please get in touch here. I will try to get back to you within two working days, but please bear with me.
Please note I cannot undertake glass repairs or replicate other people's work.