*Prices shown maybe subject to change
+Work shown may not be in stock, please contact us to confirm availability
Biography :
Anna began her creative journey in the theatre as a freelance costume maker and had a successful 20-year career working for opera, ballet and musical theatre companies both here and abroad. She wished to broaden her skills and knowledge so studied contemporary decorative craft at De Montfort University and in 2000 graduated with 1st Class Hons specialising in kiln-formed glass.
Since then Anna has worked as a full-time glass artist developing a striking signature style of richly coloured and textured glassware for the home and garden. She is influenced by floras and landscape and particularly enjoys expressing the colours of North Africa. Since 2003 Anna has spent part of each year in Morocco where she has a house and when not working in her Nottingham studio she can be spotted in the souks of Marrakech!
Her work including: framed pictures, platters and jewellery can be seen in galleries and independent shops as well as specialist craft events throughout the UK.
Anna French
Jeweller & Glass Artist
Artist Statement :
“Before studying decorative craft I was a theatre costume maker particularly specialising in ballet costumes so layering, smoothing, handling opaque and translucent fabrics has certainly impacted on how I shape and apply colour to my glass designs today.
My approach to creating a new piece is not unlike a chef bringing a new plate to the table. I crush, grind, sieve and sprinkle powders and shards onto the surface of the glass to create depth, texture and balance. My work space often looks more like a kitchen - my next favourite space to inhabit when I’m not in the studio!
I fabricate stencils of stylized motifs particularly influenced by my passion of floras and landscape. Recently I have been researching the extravagant embroidery designs from the Parisian, Paul Poiret “Martine” school of decorative arts to depict a range of bright fresh flower patterns. Stylistically it’s a move in a new direction for me although in some respects it reflects back to my sewing days.” - Anna French