Roberta Ayles

I work from my home near Totnes, Devon. My background is in stained glass though nowadays my main area of work is fusing. I work mainly to commission, making panels which can be used for windows, screens, lighting, splashbacks, and tabletops. The kiln-forming process allows me to introduce texture as well as colour – by using the third dimension I can create pieces which change with the viewpoint and the play of light. I also make smaller items in the kiln- for example bowls and candleholders. These are made by slumping a piece of fused glass into or over a mould. The smaller scale work is a useful way of experimenting with new designs in an economical way. I love the element of chance that the kiln brings to my work. Sometimes the most exciting effects come from something which first happened by accident. Visitors are welcome to visit my workshop by appointment, and I run occasional beginners’ classes