About Dave Griffin - Stained Glass Artist based in Derbyshire

I live with my family in Bakewell, Derbyshire, and am passionate about stained glass in all its forms. What captivated me initially was seeing coloured light streaming through the Rose Window in Lincoln Cathedral. In the 1980’s I began painting on glass and selling my work at local craft fairs, and my subsequent qualification as a physiotherapist gave me the wherewithal to attend classes in basic stained glass technique.

I started working full-time with glass in July 2001, and developed skills both independently and through attending advanced classes run by well-established artists. With the aid of the Business Link team in Bakewell I was able to set up a small business running from home, and the support and encouragement I received from my membership of Peak District Products has been invaluable. PDP is an association of professional artists and craftspeople who live in and around the Peak District, and are committed to producing work to a high standard of excellence.

In November 2002 I was awarded a New Environmental Economy Grant from the Peak Park Authority, and this enabled me to relocate to my first workshop at the Old Sawmill in Rowsley. I have continued to develop my skills as a glazier and artist by attending various courses in topics such as painting, staining and enamelling, and especially enjoy creating panels for exhibitions hosted by the British Society of Master Glass Painters (such as the recent 40cm2 Exhibition in 2009. The need for more space eventually necessitated a move to a larger and better lit workshop in Bakewell in February 2008.

Inspiration

I like to produce pieces which fully engage the viewer as well as providing decoration,  and my inspiration comes from the beauty of shapes and forms found in nature. Many commissions are inspired by the landscape and flora of the Peak District, and my natural inclination is towards more abstract styles which make use of texture, glass nuggets and naturally transparent minerals.

Approach and techniques

The philosophy behind my work is to provide people with the opportunity to realise their ideas and dreams through the medium of light and glass.  Over the last 6 years I have worked to develop my own individual style by using traditional leading techniques in unconventional ways.  I particularly like the idea of using lead came and paint together to trick and delight the eye.