Dark Dog Glass - Open Studios

Handcrafted kiln formed glass created by Ali Packham, including panels, dishes, hangings, pictures, coasters and striking garden art.

Living alongside the River Inny, my work is often influenced by my immediate surroundings of a tranquil river valley. I find the world of glass fusing to be truly captivating, working with warm glass brings endless opportunity for exploration and creativity. It never ceases to amaze me how such a seemingly cold, brittle, static medium transforms in the kiln to create vibrant colours and tactile soft flowing lines and forms. The possibilities are never-ending and with just slight variations of temperature and time in the kiln dramatically different results can be achieved.

Open Studios is a brilliant way to view the work of local artists and to have the time to find out more about them. It is fantastic to have the opportunity to see, touch and experience the actual works which often can be tricky to fully capture in a two-dimensional image viewed on paper or online. Coming to visit in person is a chance to have a good chat with me about my work – what, why and how – in a relaxed, informal atmosphere with the River Inny burbling away in the background.