British glass designer, Siobhan Jones, who has been commissioned to produce the National CSR Awards winners’ prizes has presented samples of the unique artwork that will be won by the most responsible businesses entering six categories at the inaugural event being held in Surrey on 6 March 2015.
Siobhan Jones, one of Britain’s leading contemporary fused glass artists, has been designing and making her creations for nearly twenty years. Her talent has been rewarded with many corporate commissions, and her most recognised clients include chef Heston Blumenthal and cricketer David Gower among others.
Karen Sutton, Chairman of the National CSR Awards said “We feel very privileged to be working with such a creative designer as Siobhan. I know that our winners will recognise how unique and exclusive her work is and will be exceptionally proud to display it prominently in their business premises.”
Working at The Forge Gallery in Sussex, which Siobhan painstakingly converted, the restored forge now provides the showcase for work, in addition to her own, from some of Britain’s finest professional artists and designers using traditional techniques in a contemporary manner. These techniques have created ‘one offs’ in an environment where originality is a key unique selling point.
Siobhan demonstrates an innate understanding of her materials and has put this to good use to produce large wall and sculptural work for many councils, NHS hospitals, embassies, schools and universities. Eager to pass her knowledge onto others Siobhan holds one-day “Introduction to Fused Glass” courses at the gallery utilising left over glass to make smaller items.
“We try to waste nothing,” said Siobhan “One bin is labelled for re-cycling and the other is for real rubbish. We use whatever we can, even stripping bits of copper wire from phone cables to form interesting features within the glass. The equipment needed is minimal except for an industrial grinder and two large kilns. All of the glass is hand cut and the process is time intensive and very manual.”
While doing her art degree, Siobhan was the first student to use Bullseye glass, which is made in Portland, Oregon. Fusing glass requires a speciality glass and Bullseye are one of the few companies that produces this hand rolled material in their in-house factory.
To view the work of Siobhan Jones, visit her website: www.siobhanjones.com
Entries are still open for the National CSR Awards until the end of January. For more information, visit the website: www.nationalCSRawards.co.uk
