Meet The Tutors

Carol is an artist who draws inspiration from the world around her, with a lifelong love of nature and animals. 

Carol first started working with stained glass at Adult Education classes over fifteen years ago and then at the Weidman Glass studio. She works mainly with cold glass and has taught copper foiled suncatchers and 3d artworks for six years. She is always striving to find new ways to share the beauty of stained glass, bringing these traditional skills into the modern home in both realistic and abstract pieces. 

A self-taught painter living and working in Chelmsford, her expressive and colourful paintings showcase her experience using oil, acrylic and watercolour. Those brief connections with wild and exotic animals are Carol’s favourite things to capture in her work, illustrating the beauty of nature. Carol was a finalist for the Artist and Illustrators Artist of the Year Competition 2018 at the Mall Galleries in London and has exhibited with the Society of Women Artists.

Carol’s work can be found in local shops and galleries (details on her website). She also regularly exhibits in Art Trails and at local Craft fairs.

Fenella has been working with fused glass for 30 years being introduced to the craft at Cambridge Art College,  however she has been able to dedicate more time to this versatile medium since retiring in 2016. Fenella is inspired by our beautiful east coast and the sea, “I am lucky enough to live near the stunning River Blackwater and have my studio in my back garden”. 

Fenella gained her teaching experience during my long career as a nurse, acheiving a Post Graduate Teaching Certificate. She offers small workshops experiences at home but also works at a number of larger studios around Essex and has exhibited and sold within the county for years. She really enjoy delivering the workshop experience as a day for the recipient to relax and offer valuable self therapy.

Fenella is open to commissions both big and small and am always happy to discuss ideas for new workshops.  “I also enjoy textile and machine embroidery art, sailing, outdoor life and my gorgeous growing family. “

In the early 1980's Caroline's 'talent for making things' led her to studying sculpture at college, showing and exhibiting her large scale paper sculptures widely for a number of years, before embarking on a career in Probation and Social work. In 2004, she was introduced to working with glass. After studying for her City & Guilds in Stained Glass, within two years, she was working as a full time glass artist. Initially with a small studio at the Hylands Park Stables Visitor Centre and subsequently at the Barleylands Craft Village, where she ran a successful stained glass studio business for over 15 years.

Caroline initially focussed on her traditional leading skills, developing her practice by creating and restoring windows locally with Essex. She also took an interest in copper foiling and glass fusing. After several years at Barleylands the 'Art Glass Gallery' was opened, which showcased the work of students and glass professionals alike. During this period Caroline discovered lamp working, initially to make beads, but also working sculpturally. She travelled to both Lauscha and Murano, to learn the techniques of sculpting in soft glass. A challenging technique, which requires many years of practice to master, Caroline continues to develop her skills in this area. For those able to visit Glass Studio Supplies, there is an ongoing display of her current work within the shop.

Since her move to Glass Studio Supplies in 2023 to take up the role of artist in residence, Caroline has continued to take commissions, teach and run workshops, alongside developing her lamp work sculptural practice. She recently exhibited a lampwork figure in 15 x 15 exhibition at the Blowfish Gallery as part of International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge and participated in their Turn Up The Heat event, demonstrating her figurative lampwork skills in the courtyard at the Red House Glass Cone.