Woman at the Well

Wells and springs are sacred places. One day Niall, a son of the King of Ireland, was hunting with his four brothers when he came across a hideous old woman guarding a well. As a price for the water from the well, the hag demanded a kiss from each of the borhters. Only Niall overcame his revulsion and kissed her, weheupon she turned into a beautiful woman. This old story embodies for me the idea of hidden beauty.

Inspired by the intricacies and meditative qualities of traditional Celtic motifs, I sandblast these designs onto flashed or plain glass, sometimes enhanced with painted detailing. The designs are incorporated into the larger panel. In these, the Celtic design becomes the focal point for a contemporary design.

Glass is primarily about light and, increasingly, I am aware of how intensely colour and light affect us.