This bank holiday we spent the weekend pottering by the river in Henley-on-Thames and quite by chance discovered that it was the annual Henley Arts Trail, where local artists and designer makers open their studios to the public.
Never one to miss an opportunity to visit an open studio event, we headed off first of all to Assenden Glass where glassmaker Anne Arlidge’s studio was filled with people fascinated by the various techniques she uses. Of particular interest to me were her beautiful cast fruit and vegetables made from recycled Dartington crystal using a technique based on the lost wax casting method, which she refers to as the ‘lost vegetable process’! You can read about how she creates these tactile pieces on her website at www.assendenglass.co.uk/vegetables.asp.
Next we visited the idyllic garden studio of jeweller Wendy Penrose who also had quite a crowd watching her demonstrate how she creates her beautiful handmade silver and glass beads. Wendy was absolutely delightful, taking time to explain to my (rather grumpy and overtired) three year old exactly what she was doing, and allowing him to dig for treasure in her wonderful bead collection! I was transfixed watching Wendy work so deftly with the molten glass over a flame, creating each individual bead from scratch using vibrantly coloured sticks of glass.
I adore the coastal theme of Wendy’s work and couldn’t leave without buying a pretty pair of silver clam shell earrings. She has also inspired me to have a go at lampwork myself, and I’m now determined to take up the offer of Tracey Bell at The Old Kennels in Devon who had suggested that I try out one of her glass beadmaking workshops. To see more of Wendy’s work or to place an order, visit her website at www.wendypenrosejewellery.co.uk.
