‘Elements of Place – Formed by Fire’ is a five day flameworking and micro-mosaic workshop aimed at practicing glass and mosaic artists.  The workshop is designed to explore these complementary hot and cold glass working techniques, in combination with simple casting and the use of natural and manmade forms. Field trips to study the dramatic landscape of the local Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland will inspire our work during the week.

Participants will be encouraged to explore a variety of glass media to construct their own micro-mosaics. The group will be guided through a variety of processes—hot glass flame-work, simple casting and filato mosaic making—to discover how best to realise their ideas in three dimensions. Workshop instruction and experimentation will be complemented by group discussions and artists’ presentations, with individual feedback provided by the tutors.

Benefield Spencer Glass is a rural retreat with a well-equipped glass studio providing a range of materials, bench torches and crucibles to support hand-pulling filati and making filato mosaics. Surrounded by open fields and farmland, close to the sea and immersed in the unique geological features that characterise this area, we will have plenty of opportunity to explore and observe pattern, structure, colour and discover found objects unearthed from nature. The combination of the studio facility and immediate access to the North Antrim Coast will provide a magnificently resourced, intensive workshop experience.

Andrea Spencer (glass) and Joanna Kessel (mosaic) are highly regarded artists within their specialist fields, frequently exhibiting their contemporary artworks nationally and internationally.

Information and booking andreaspencerglass.com