Captivated by Glass

GILES SUTHERLAND looks at the prospects for a new glass making studio in Tain set up by artists Brodie Nairn and Nicky Burns

GIVEN IMPETUS by the success of Northlands Creative Glass in Caithness, glass artists Brodie Nairn and Nicky Burns have recently set up a glass working studio and gallery in Tain. 
 

“We looked at many areas within the UK and Ireland and realised that we were not also wanting a good location for a studio but also a place that felt comfortable to live,” Nicky said.

“Financially it would have been difficult for us to find a suitable workshop area in the central belt. We found Tain was perfect – it is a pretty place to work and visit, other businesses have been very supportive, and there are already a number of very skilled professional artists in the area (enhanced by Brown’s Gallery), and two potteries which are already ‘on the map’ for ceramic enthusiasts. Tain already had people visiting who have a knowledge and excitement about the arts.”

Certainly Glasstorm’s opening night was a hive of activity, with the refurbished garage workshop housing a demonstration of glass-blowing and what seemed like a good number of sales taking place. But an opening night is one thing, and long-term commercial realities another. I asked Nicky about the economic feasibility of such an undertaking.

If enthusiasm were the only ingredient of success, Glasstorm would be well on its way to major business triumph.

Nicky and Brodie’s approach is no different. Sharing the same space as beautiful vases in a variety of colours and shapes are Brodie’s cleaved, sensuous, perfectly honed sculptural glass objects. Beside these are Nicky’s energetic, exuberant and vital sculptural forms.

“Our main concentration is to market our functional Glasstorm glassworks and to promote our own individual art work through galleries and exhibitions. We need to create a greater network of galleries in other UK areas outwith Scotland and build upon our European and USA reputation. We also really enjoy collaborative projects and installation work and this is an area that both of us look forward to engaging in and promoting in 2006.”

Like most types of businesses involving artists and craft-workers, Glasstorm employs a parallel strategy where functional objects (such as glasses, tableware, vases etc.) are made and displayed alongside much more artistic (and expensive) art objects.

It’s a balancing act, but one with a long lineage of success. The woodworker Tim Stead employed a similar strategy by making furniture which he used to ‘subsidise’ his sculptural ‘habit’. Nicky admits that she is all too well aware of the challenges ahead.

“We trained to work with glass because it is captivating and alluring. We do not kid ourselves that to make a living from our art will be easy (particularly glass), and for a young start-up business we realise that we have much work to do. We hope, however, to enthuse people about our work and be able to carve a name for ourselves within the UK glass scene.”
 If enthusiasm were the only ingredient of success, Glasstorm would be well on its way to major business triumph. Realistically, however, it is a mixture of business acumen, technical and artistic skill and a great deal of hard work which contribute to such a success.

One gets the feeling that this energetic couple (with the help of friends, family, the local enterprise company, RACE, and Highland Opportunity Ltd ) will create a successful economic future for themselves. Certainly their presence in the Highland art scene is greatly to be welcomed.

© Giles Sutherland, 2005

Related Sites

Visit the new Glasstorm website at www.glasstorm.com