Kathleen James
Stained Glass Artist & Illustrator

Eclectic, original, and occasionally humorous, my art work is inspired by history, mythology and folklore.

Elfgift Glass is the shop name.  The studio is occasionally open to the public and we run workshops in various venues. See Upcoming Events for the next date or get in touch for an appointment.

 

View or download my CV

I’m currently an (elderly) part-time student at the University of Sunderland, studying for a degree with the pithy title BA (Hons) Artist, Designer Maker: Glass and Ceramics.  I also run some volunteer workshops at a nearby community centre, The Whitley Bay Big Local.

 

How I Got Started


For many years my day job was as a technical author working in IT, writing software manuals. Yes, that’s just as dull as it sounds. Needing a bit of colour in life, I went back to university to study graphic design and illustration, earning a BA (Hons) in Visual Communication in 2007.

I became a stained glass artist in 2017, using my graphic design and illustration skills to create original patterns.  My main body of work is built using the copper foil technique made popular by L. C. Tiffany. Now, as a part-time student at the world-class glass arts centre at the University of Sunderland, studying for a BA (Hons) Artist, Designer, Maker: Glass and Ceramics, my glass repertoire has expanded from plain stained and recycled/upcycled glass to include, for example, fusing, sandblasting and crocheted copper wire.

Catalysts for my work come from history and mythology such as stories in the Welsh Mabinogion. When visiting places like the British Museum, the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle or cathedrals there’s always a sketch book in hand. I’ve been spotted lurking on demolition sites in London to scavenge interesting glass from old windows.

Ancient History

A long time ago, we moved into a new house where a huge heap of glass was left behind by the previous owners. It was mostly clear, with interesting daisy patterns and ripples, cut into rectangles, circles and funny little arc shapes.

Then in 2004, I saw a stained glass course at the local arts centre and thought – oh, I could use it there. My tutor was Caroline Loveys at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Berkshire.  Althought I starting off with that unexpected windfall of clear glass (which many of my designs are still using, all these years later), the incredible colours that made me fall in love with stained glass. The intensity of Bristol Blue, the gold and red that never fades … it’s like holding a rainbow in your hand.  I fell in love with the craft and never looked back.