A spectacular exhibition of contemporary engraved glass has opened at the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park in Dorset, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and offering unique Christmas gift ideas for visitors. The exhibition, organized by the South West Guild of Glass Engravers, opened on Wednesday, November 26th, 2025, and will run through Sunday, December 7th, 2025, with daily hours from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
The exhibition features an impressive collection of glass artwork from nine talented guild members, including Alan Brimson, Amanda Lawrence, Andy Hall, Christopher Ainslie, Herbie Davies, Pete Lightowler, Rob Page, Sue Burne, and Viv Marshall. Each artist brings their unique style and expertise to create a diverse display ranging from practical items like vases to decorative etched glass panels suitable for wall hanging.
One of the exhibition's highlights is the interactive component that allows visitors to try their hand at glass engraving by creating personalized glass Christmas cards. Sue Burne, an associate fellow of the Guild of Glass Engravers and former chair of the guild, explains the appeal of this hands-on experience: "One of the good things about glass engraving is that you can create something quite spectacular quite easily as a beginner, and it's nice to take home something that's really good, right from the first attempt. But after that, it does take years to perfect the skill."
The venue's stunning natural lighting has proven ideal for displaying the intricate glasswork. Burne notes, "Normally, we struggle to light our glass, but we haven't had to put any lights in the cabinets because of the amazing natural light shining through the windows from across the sea." To complement the seaside location, the guild has specifically included ocean-themed pieces such as Rob Page's "Ship on a Bottle," Pete Lightowler's "Creature of the Sea bowl," and other maritime-inspired works.
The Guild of Glass Engravers holds the distinction of being the only organization in the United Kingdom specifically dedicated to the art of glass engraving. The south-west branch has maintained a strong presence since its formation in March 1979, and typically organizes exhibitions at Durlston every two years. This tradition continues to showcase the evolution and mastery of glass engraving techniques across generations of artisans.
Among the featured works, visitors can admire Amanda Lawrence's "Three Marvellous Micromoth" glass wall plaque, Alan Brimson's etched glass pictures of birds and animals, Andy Hall's "Sea Eagles," Herbie Davies' "Moths and Butterflies" vase, and Christopher Ainslie's stunning engraved blue glass plaques. Particularly noteworthy is Viv Marshall's plate, which was restored using Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken items, creating a unique fusion of Eastern philosophy and Western glass artistry.
Sue Burne emphasizes the sustainable aspect of their craft, explaining how the guild members often rescue quality glass pieces from charity shops: "The important thing about engraving is to use high quality glass, but unfortunately it is getting harder to obtain as there are issues with producing lead crystal safely due to the lead content. However, one solution is to hunt for decent glass in charity shops. Often you can find an odd decanter or single plain glass by a manufacturer like Dartington, and I can make it into something special. I enjoy saving glass objects that would probably just be thrown away otherwise and last a million years in landfill."
The exhibition showcases the permanence and lasting value of glass art as heirloom pieces. "Glass is very permanent – it won't fade or deteriorate, so it's ideal as an heirloom to pass down through the generations, and should last longer than a painting," Burne explains. "It's said we are living in the age of glass. Everywhere we look, there is glass, whether that's the screen of our laptop or phone, or beautiful objects, like we have here in the gallery!"
For those inspired by the exhibition, Rob Page from the South West Guild of Glass Engravers will conduct a hands-on glass engraving workshop on Saturday, December 13th, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM in the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park. The workshop costs £15 per person and is suitable for children over 8 years old and adults, providing an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of this ancient craft in a professional setting.
