The Independent - Peter Layton on his family's escape from the Nazis
Peter Layton reflects on his family's escape from Nazi persecution
Ahead of his appearance on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Peter Layton spoke to The Independent about his parents Edith and Freddy's escape from Austria as Jewish refugees, fleeing on one of the last trains out before war broke out just days later. Peter described their survival as a total miracle, and credited the life and career that followed entirely to their courage in getting away. The family later anglicised their name from Lowy to Layton, settling in Bradford, where Peter would go on to become one of the founding figures of the British studio glass movement.
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.