Observation and Making in Place is a three-day workshop for artists who want to work creatively with fire and glass in unison with the elements of nature.  

Benefield Spencer Glass is located in a rustic build environment, set within open fields, close to the rugged coastline and unique geological features which characterize the North Antrim Coast. This combination of studio facility and rural environment will provide the source to explore meaningful, responsive and sculptural observations of nature through the process of flameworked glass.

The focus of this workshop will encourage close observation of both the natural and rural built environment to create ideas exploring manifestations of interdependence and co-existence. We will take time to explore and investigate patterns, structures and spaces found in this natural environment. In the studio, we will work with glass rods and tubes at the torch, and will endeavor to find imaginative ways to communicate what has been observed.

The participants will have the opportunity to learn simple flame working skills that will allow them to create intricate structures, installations and objects.

Andrea Spencer and Annie Cattrell are highly experienced artists within their specialist fields, frequently exhibiting their artworks nationally and internationally. The natural environment informs both artists current work.

This is the fourth time that Annie and Andrea will collaborate to co facilitate an intensive workshop. In 2017 Annie was the lead facilitator of Materiality, Making and Meaning at Northlands Creative in Lybster, Scotland. The following year they were invited to run a five-day workshop From Within at Berlin Glass in Berlin. In 2019 Annie and Andrea co-facilitated Liminal Spaces from this glass studio on the Antrim Coast.

The emphasis, of these collaborative workshops, is concerned with the exploration of materiality and ideas and the subsequent distillation of the participant’s creative voice. Each unique workshop aims to expand upon meaningful narratives and the poetic, with emphasis on the actual location. Together, their combined approaches and skills offer a breadth of technical competence in flame working and sculpture, along with insightful and constructive guidance for each individual. Their collective experience covers public art commissions, gallery and exhibition work, lecturing and workshop facilitation.

Dates: 4 - 6 Aug  2023 

Venue: Benefield Spencer Glass, Ballintoy, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Price: £490 pp

Level: The workshop is aimed at practicing artists. No prior flameworking experience is necessary. 

No. of participants: The workshop has been designed to accommodate 5 participants.  We require 5 bookings for the workshop to run. If the workshop becomes fully booked we will keep a waiting list.