IAN LONSDALE - STAINED GLASS ARTIST
Ian Lonsdale has been working with stained glass leaded panels for many years and has been teaching the subject (part-time) at Mid-Cheshire College for the last two years. He specialises in designing and producing panels from the early part of the 20th Century - the heyday of stained glass for the domestic market. A time when nearly every home had at least one stained glass panel. Sadly, many of these homes have had them taken out and replaced with either plain double glazed plastic windows or even imitation stained glass panels which use coloured paint or film.
Ian has spent much of his time helping homeowners return their houses to former glory by restoring the stained glass panels with either new designs (appropriate to the period of the time) or copying from similar houses which have retained their stained glass. He now has an extensive portfolio of designs used in houses and is hoping to have these published so that other lovers of stained glass can appreciate the skills and craftsmanship involved.
Courses in the basic skills required to make stained glass panels
Ian runs regular introductory courses on making stained glass panels in his studio in the basement of his home. These are targeted at people who want to make a panel for their home but need someone to teach them the basics and then supervise their own efforts and provide guidance. No tools or equipment need to be bought as everything you need to make a small panel is supplied. The result being a quality stained glass panel made by the student at a fraction of the cost charged by a professional. No special skills are required. The courses are available to anyone who is interested. They are run as a two-day weekend course - starting at 9.30am on Saturday morning and finishing at 5pm on the Sunday. A buffet style lunch will be provided on Saturday and Sunday and if anyone requires accomodation, this can be arranged at a local hotel. It is planned to run 3 courses this year. One in July, one in September and one in November. Space in the studio is limited so each course will have a maximum of 4 people which means , of course, that more time will be available for individual tuition. The price per person for the weekend course is available on request and includes the cost of all materials and lunch on both days. Accomodation , if required, would be extra but special rates can be negotiated.
If, on the other hand, you live in and around Northwich in Cheshire, you can always join the weekly classes that he runs at Mid Cheshire College. More details are available from the college at: www.midchesh.ac.uk
Ian cares passionately about restoration of both the skills involved in stained glass work and of the many wonderful designs which have been lost over the years. Hopefully this will be a legacy for the next generation and perhaps see a return of this simple yet beautiful craft in houses and working environments of the future.
Copyright © 2005 Vintage Glass Studio by Ian Lonsdale