Confluence: Peter Layton & Tim Rawlinson
“Time marched on. Succession was on the horizon. Tim and I are working together towards a degree of continuity in ethos and in our approach to our making practice.” - Peter Layton
At its heart, glassmaking is a collaborative art form. This exhibition, Confluence, our joint exhibition, signified a coming together - a merging, mingling and blending of ideas - a meeting of minds. If that sounds pretentious, that was never our intention. We simply wanted to illustrate a synergistic process, a way of working alongside one another where each of us contributes to the other’s creative journey.
Reverb by Tim Rawlinson
This exhibition explored a number of common strands of new and archival pieces that show how our sources of inspiration, concepts and making, overlap on occasion, demonstrating our mutual interests and how we influence one another. Ways in which we might do this could be a ‘critical’ prompt, hinting at some possible development, a constructive comment, a grin or a grimace.
Since we were both extremely interested in creating visual texture, and exploring colour and surface treatments - seeking to create flowing movement and optical depth - we often found ourselves independently researching similar ideas or forms.
Tim drew inspiration from Anthony McCall's Solid Light exhibition at Tate Modern, creating optical sculptures in solid glass forms that are kinetic in nature - where the interior flows and reverberates within the glass, never remaining static in the viewer’s perception.
Rock by Peter Layton
Echoes of Light by Tim Rawlinson
"My works for Confluence explore the optical possibilities of textured surfaces, creating illusions that transform how light interacts with glass. Some techniques I adapted from Peter's earlier works, particularly his Medusa series with its embedded coloured elements, were reinterpreted through my interest in perception and visual movement. The wave-like textures serve both as an homage to Peter's fluid aesthetic, and as my own exploration of optical boundaries, especially in my black and white pieces influenced by Bridget Riley's pop art." - Tim Rawlinson
Our Stories
Peter and Tim at the annual Glass Art Society Conference
Ahead of their trip to New York for the annual Glass Art Society Conference at the Corning Museum of Glass, Peter and Tim shared an insightful talk with guests at our gallery. In this special preview of the presentation they would go on to deliver at the world-renowned museum, Peter and Tim looked back on more than fifty years of creativity, craftsmanship, and community, sharing personal insights into the studio's evolution while also considering its future. From there, they headed to Corning, New York, for the conference itself!
Our Glass Community Reflect on Peter Layton
To mark fifty years of London Glassblowing, we asked artists, collaborators and friends to share what the studio has meant to them. Their answers span five decades - from first encounters at the hotshop to lifelong friendships. What emerges is a portrait of a community built around one man's vision, and the remarkable things that vision made possible.
Fifty Years of Fire: Celebrating Peter Layton and London Glassblowing
For half a century, London Glassblowing has transformed contemporary glass art - pioneering new techniques, supporting generations of artists, and establishing a studio at the forefront of innovation. This milestone year offers a moment to reflect, to reminisce, and to celebrate the extraordinary impact that has helped shape the world of glass.