Antonia Macgregor Designs in Glass

I am based in Bradford on Avon and have worked with glass for a number of years. Self taught and self employed, Istarted out with a workshop in Cornwall creating stained glass windows to commission and exhibition. A year's spell at Swansea Glass Institute ignited a passion for etching patterns and images into glass by the process of sandblasting. Resourcing ideas from an overgrown garden in Wales, the delicate results inspired a change of direction, and paved the way for the creation of decoratively etched mirrors and bespoke designs in clear glazing. By the process of sandblasting, surface areas of glass and mirror are etched and frosted through hand cut stencils to reveal the incidental, silhouetted forms of branches, stems, leaves and other tangled flora in all its wild spontaneous stages of growth and decay. When applied to clear glazing, the design may appear either as a positive image - decoratively frosting the image into the glass surface, or as a negative image whereby the design remains transparent against a frosted background. Light diffuses through the etched areas, often casting shadows across floors and walls. Varying degrees of privacy can be created and total opacity can be achieved by etching both sides, the design appearing as a subtle silhouette within the glass. The process is effective within mirrors for which I have created a range of designs, both in the positive and negative. The light enhancing qualities of material combined with a delicate design are an elegant addition to any room. I undertake bespoke commissions and create pieces for exhibition.