I was invited by Creativity Works in Lancashire to produce a new artwork inspired by the Howarth Art Gallery’s renowned Tiffany glass collection— the largest of its kind outside the United States.

Tiffany glassware is most commonly associated with lighting pieces, especially table lamps and ceiling fixtures adorned with intricately patterned, dome-shaped shades. Using this as a starting point, I was drawn to the idea of creating a work that also incorporated illumination, allowing me to highlight and celebrate the translucent, light-responsive nature of glass.

Nature—and the elements of Water, Air, and Fire—played a central role in Tiffany’s design philosophy. I wanted to echo this connection in my own work. My attention was captured by the ubiquitous pressed crystal glassware found in many UK homes. These everyday domestic objects, with their sharp facets, intricate patterns, and angular textures, often resemble formations of ice or frozen water droplets.

While Tiffany glass is celebrated for its sophisticated techniques and richly coloured finishes—such as Ring Mottle Glass or Herringbone Ripple Glass—I chose to take a contrasting approach. Instead of embracing colour, I stripped it away entirely. By focusing solely on the clarity and tactile geometry of pressed crystal, I aimed to reveal the inherent beauty of texture, structure, and light.

The resulting sculpture is a domed, igloo-like form constructed from layers of clear domestic crystal glassware. Softly illuminated from below, the structure glows with a cool, crystalline radiance. Light moves through the dense patterns of the glass, creating shifting refractions that evoke ice, frost, and the quiet atmospheres of winter. In this way, the work becomes both a tribute to Tiffany’s elemental inspirations and a contemporary reimagining of the role of light within glass.