About Us
Founded by Peter Layton in 1976, London Glassblowing is among Europe’s foremost glass art galleries and one of the longest running hot glass studios.
The exquisite glass art on display in the gallery is constantly changing. Visitors can not only view pieces from the UK’s finest studio glass artists, but can also watch them practise their craft in the studio that lies beyond its white walls. To the beat of a searing furnace, they coax molten glass, transforming the shapes of their imagination into solid form. It seems almost impossible that these glowing orbs can be related to the cool polished objects displayed in the adjoining gallery.
Our cold working studio is where the blown work is finished, and where cut and polished sculptural forms emerge from their rough raw state. We are grateful to Foundation Alcea for their support of the cold studio and assistance in enabling us to provide training for up-and-coming artists.
There is limited glassblowing between 1-2pm and blowing stops at around 4.30pm. Owing to limited space in the viewing area, we are unable to accommodate large groups.
Meet The Team
Peter Layton
Founder
Peter is the founder of London Glassblowing and a pioneer in glass art. Now at the age of 87, he is still to be found actively creating in the studio or chatting to visitors. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of themes, Peter is constantly evolving his artistic output.
Ann Layton
Director
Ann is Peter's wife, and oversees the entire business in all its complexity. Much of our success as a studio and gallery can be attributed to Ann's vision, expertise and attention to detail. Working in partnership with her excellent team, she drives our enterprise forward.
Gena Johns
Gallery Director
Gena manages all aspects of the gallery ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Her role includes the planning and curating of exhibitions, leading our marketing, liaising with artists and directing our team with drive and enthusiasm.
Sam Johnson
Sales & Partner Galleries Manager
Sam liaises with partner galleries, who exhibit Peter Layton’s work throughout the UK and abroad. She oversees sales, and can frequently be found in the gallery chatting to customers as well as cuddling their dogs.
Becky Smith
Senior Coordinator
Often to be found behind the scenes, Becky manages many of the day-to-day aspects of London Glassblowing. From maintaining the gallery website to organising photoshoots, Becky ensures that you receive the best possible experience in our gallery and online.
Sophie Layton
Events & Sales Coordinator
Peter and Ann’s daughter and an established printmaker, Sophie has recently begun to translate her imagery into glass. She has a passion and knowledge of the medium, and expresses this with verve and enthusiasm in the gallery.
Isabel Gilchrist
Gallery Manager
Isabel is on hand to answer any enquiries and help you find that perfect piece for your home. She manages our gallery events and oversees commissions to completion. With boundless enthusiasm Isabel arrives daily with exotic eye makeup that often echoes artworks on show.
Emma-Rose Burgess
Senior Gallery Sales Coordinator
A friendly and attentive presence, Emma can be found welcoming customers in the gallery. Her background in textiles not only shines through in her fashionable outfits but also in her creative flair for curating our jewellery cabinets and ensuring the gallery is always looking its best. When she is not in the gallery, she collaborates with Becky to keep our online shop current.
Lauren Johnson
Gallery Assistant & Social Media
Lauren is one-half of our dynamic packing duo, ensuring artworks are prepared for shipping with precise care and attention. Her creative talents extend to curating our engaging social media channels, providing a personal lens into exhibitions and artists' processes. Away from the screen, Lauren can be frequently found in the gallery warmly welcoming visitors with a smile on her face and infectious enthusiasm.
Will Budgett
Gallery Assistant
The newest member of London Glassblowing, Will is part of our packing and video editing team. As a sculptor himself, he is always on hand to answer any questions you have regarding the processes of glassblowing and his creative eye is invaluable. His warm personality and insightful guidance ensures your visit to the gallery is informative and engaging!
Tim Rawlinson
Cold Studio
Tim joined London Glassblowing in 2011, after graduating from the Glass Department of Bucks New University. Having worked initially as an assistant, he now has overall responsibility for the cold working studio, and has established himself as a leading glass artist internationally. He supplies a number of major glass galleries in the US with recent showings in Florida and New York City.
Bruce Marks
Hot Studio Manager
Bruce has been working closely with Peter Layton since 2001, as a trainee and assistant, then Studio Manager and additionally as Peter’s principle colourist, helping Peter to explore a variety of complex colour applications. He completed a Masters degree at University of the Creative Arts, Farnham in 2010. Bruce continues to refine his own Bird series for which he is justly renowned.
Louis Thompson
Hot Studio
Louis is one of the foremost glassmakers currently working in the UK. Having previously headed up the Glass Department at Staffordshire University he joined London Glassblowing in 2003. Whilst here, he completed a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art and has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards including the Jerwood Makers Prize. Louis recently held a spectacular solo show in Canada Wharf, London.
Liam Reeves
Hot Studio
Liam studied for his Masters degree at the Royal College of Art alongside both Louis and Sarah, with whom he shares a coldworking studio. He is currently the Senior Technician in the Glass Department at the RCA, and is an expert in the intricate Venetian techniques of reticello and latticino. In 2021 he joined the hot studio at London Glassblowing to work with Peter on his sculptural pieces, experimenting in form, colour and pattern.
Sarah Wiberley
Hot Studio Assistant
Sarah studied at the Surrey Institute of Art and Design, before gaining her Masters degree at the Royal College of Art. She has worked at London Glassblowing for a number of years, contributing hugely as a first class assistant and showing regularly in the gallery. Her work expresses her desire to combine imagery with glass form by the inordinately difficult process of cutting through and exposing layers of differing colour and opacity.
Sila Yucel
Cold Studio
Sila graduated in Graphic Design in 2015. As part of her studies, she participated in a six month course in glass casting in Hungary. Since then she has honed her skills working with a number of eminent glass artists. She joined London Glassblowing in 2019 where she is training in cold working techniques, supported by the Fondation Alcea. Her own cast sculptural work has developed enormously, with its emphasis on luminous colour.
Harriet Thorne
Hot Studio Assistant
Harriet, or Harri as she is affectionately known, joined London Glassblowing in 2021. Having achieved her MA from Sunderland University she has worked in various studios around the United Kingdom, including the National Glass Centre in Sunderland and Bath Aqua Glass. She is a versatile and enthusiastic glassblowing assistant, ably applying her skills and creativity to the task in hand.
