Sanders and Wallace

Andrew and David first met at North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Stoke on Trent in 1974. Having previously studied ceramics, Andrew at Rotherham College of Art and David at Hartlepool College of Art, they were studying for an honours degree in Multi Disciplinary Design. This course allowed them to explore a variety of media including textiles, photography, graphics, jewellery, glass and ceramics. After experimenting in the glass department they soon found a common interest in working with hot glass and blown glass in particular. Under the guidance of James Roddis and David Reekie, Course Tutors and Stan Gill, Master-glassmaker, they started to develop a close working relationship.

Andrew became excited by glass at an early age:

"I first saw glassmakers at work when I visited Caithness Glass on a school trip in the late 1960`s and was fascinated and not a little scared by the hot glass being thrown about in such a carefree manner. Some years later after seeing an exhibition of studio glass in Lincoln by James Roddis, John Cook and Keith Cummings I realised that glass could be used as a creative medium and decided to study glass design myself.

I owe such a lot to my tutor Stan Gill who patiently showed me all I needed to know as far as glassmaking techniques were concerned. I find endless inspiration in studying pieces of glass from history, the 18th Century English glasshouses in particular, when the qualities of lead glass was creating new and exciting design possibilities. It is these qualities that I try to capture in my work."

David did not realise the creative potential of glass until he enrolled on the course at North Staffordshire Polytechnic:

"My first visit to the glass workshop was a revelation. After seeing James Roddis control a blob of molten glass and transform it into a beautiful object I was hooked, and this shaped my approach to glassmaking. I am primarily concerned with form and the use of colour solely to enhance and delineate the objects as they are created. I hope to emphasise the spontaneous qualities of the molten glass, whether it be an obvious external feature or a more hidden element within the glass itself. Ultimately I try to capture the moment in time when the glass turns from a liquid form to a solid mass."

Andrew and David have endeavoured to perfect their glassmaking and design skills for over 30 years and this has culminated in a body of work which is both unique and distinctive.

Primavera holds an extensive collection of other work by Sanders and Wallace.

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