Ever wondered what sparks a moment of creative genius? Peter Layton's unique "sketching on the blowing iron" approach means his inspiration comes from everywhere: a shadow on the wall, the curve of a leaf, paintings, sculptures or an unexpected colour combination glimpsed in passing.

In Creative Evolution, this experimental approach has created a showcase of stunning pieces that capture moments of innovation in glass. Rather than just sketching ideas on paper, Peter and Tim work directly with molten glass, creating tangible records of their creative process.

We've selected 10 standout pieces from the online collection, each with a story behind its creation. 

Scroll through each piece below and see if you can guess the inspiration from the cryptic tagline. Answers revealed at the end.

 

Piece 1: Arguably the most famous artwork of a wave created, Peter has taken this dramatic painting and transformed it into glass. Returning time and time again to this iconic image, this represents one of Peter's signature interpretations.

Piece 2: Tim's fascination with the unknown can clearly be seen throughout his artworks. A dream, a shadow, an imagined entity, what inspiration applies to this sculptural vessel? 

Piece 3: Twists, folds and unexpected turns are central to this platter. Colours splash on the surface as if paint or ink has been dropped, blending together to create new patterns once only imagined in glass. What textile element, masterfully rendered by painters throughout history, has Tim translated into flowing glass?

Piece 4: Fluid, natural and ethereal yet architectural in stature. Has Peter been influenced by an element of natural beauty, a man-made creation or merged the two?

Piece 5: Painterly brushstrokes and colour blends together to form this perfect rolltop. This piece echoes an artist known for extending his brushstrokes beyond the picture plane. Where did this painter's marks continue that broke all traditional boundaries?

Piece 6: A series rarely seen, but a signature one of Peter's, made in collaboration with one of our favourite London galleries. If you know London Glassblowing's history, you'll remember Peter went to college with a famous 21st-century artist. Could this series be his interpretation of that work?

Piece 7: Peter took inspiration from a painter known for thick, sensuous brushwork and titles that hint at private moments. This artist often worked in series, revisiting the same emotional territories again and again.

Piece 8: James Alexander translates the environment around him into glass. Can you identify his location from the bubbling, spiraling textures?

Piece 9: A significant 16th-century Italian artist has substantially influenced Tim's painterly glass techniques. Prominent for his realistic and shocking style, can you guess the artist behind Tim's Fabrica series?

Piece 10: Peter has been fascinated by the deep contrasting tones of Yves-Klein blue and bright vibrant orange since his visit to The Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech. This interpretation has been developed further by a particular fabric. Do you know which?









Answers:

1. Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave
2. Aura - the distinctive atmosphere or quality surrounding a person, place, or thing
3. The folds of fabric
4. Natural beauty - the Aurora Borealis
5. Onto the frame
6. Collaboration: Royal Academy of Arts. Artist Inspiration: David Hockney
7. Howard Hodgkin
8. Cornwell, Oxfordshire
9. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
10. Sari-Shibori fabric