Desert Island Discs
Peter Layton appears on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs
Listen to the full episode here
Image credit BBC
Peter Layton appeared on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs on Sunday 7 June, in conversation with Lauren Laverne.
Over the course of the programme, Peter shared the eight pieces of music that have accompanied him through a remarkable life: his family's escape from Prague in 1939 on one of the last trains out, a childhood in Bradford, his discovery of glass in America during the sixties, and the founding of London Glassblowing in 1976, fifty years ago this year.
In the days since the broadcast, we've been truly touched by the many lovely comments and messages we've received, from longstanding friends of the studio and from listeners discovering Peter's story for the first time. Thank you to everyone who has been in touch.
If you missed the programme, the recording is available now on BBC Sounds.
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 craftsmanship and community. 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.