Discover the art of stained glass at Oxburgh Hall

27 November 2009

PEOPLE interested in the techniques and artistry of stained glass can take a closer look at the beautiful craft at Oxburgh Hall on Friday .

Spend the morning with local practitioner Pippa Blackall and find out more about the art of stained glass before stopping for a spot of lunch.

Pippa, who works from a studio on an organic smallholding just a mile from Oxburgh Hall, has had a career in stained glass that has spanned for more than 30 years.

Using a wide range or techniques from traditional to contemporary, Pippa will reveal more about a craft that many of us know little about.

Trained by Francis Spear, one of the leading stained glass artist-craftsman of the 20th century, Pippa went onto win numerous competitions from the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass; she was even made Freeman of the City of London. It was on Francis's death that Pippa was left his tools and then went onto embark on a freelance career.

Since 1973, Pippa has worked on a wide range of projects.

"Many of the commissions I get, involve stained glass windows in places of worship," she said. "Last year I worked on two new windows for St Edmundsbury Cathedral, which hadn't been replaced since Victorian times, so no pressure! You can imagine how many more years the new ones will be in place for people to see.

"Therefore, it's always important that my designs continue to remain relevant for years to come."

On Friday, Pippa will bring with her a number of sketch designs and tools to illustrate how a window is made; from the initial idea, through the making of it to putting it in place. Pippa is a tutor at the Ely Stained Glass Museum and is keen on making her sessions as fun and interactive as possible, so there will be lots of opportunities for a hands-on approach.

Pippa will then take people to see some great examples of stained glass that can be seen on the Oxburgh estate.

This lecture lunch takes place at Oxburgh Hall on Friday, 10am - 2pm and will include morning coffee and light lunch. Book your place on 01366 328258, £32.50 per person.