Angle Glass

Apprenticeship

After graduating in fine art from Sheffield Hallam University, Zoe worked for The Stained Glass Place in Chiswick, London, before setting up Creative Glass with support from the Prince’s Trust.

In 1998, she secured a glass painting apprenticeship at Goddard and Gibbs Studios, the largest stained glass studios in England. In what was very much a hands-on role, she received training in every aspect of glass painting and stained glass production from the best in the business. It was here that she learned how to apply her traditional training to commercial projects.

Establishing Angle Glass

She continued to work for Goddard and Gibbs for several years after her apprenticeship, before leaving to concentrate on her own work. This led to the establishment of Angle Glass in 2009 in Acton, west London.

From working on large commissions such as the restoration of glass from the Baltic Exchange dome, now displayed at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, to creating bespoke individual panels for homes and offices, Zoe has developed a skillset that enables her to tailor projects to her clients’ needs.

Collaboration

When a project warrants it, Zoe brings in others with the relevant skills to collaborate with her.

She has worked closely with a select group of craftspeople, building up relationships with artisans with complementary abilities. As a result, no project is too big or complicated for her to handle.

Zoe also teaches adults the craft of stained glass for Hounslow Adult and Community Education.

Working with clients

Today, most of her work comes to her as repeat commissions from existing customers and via word of mouth. 'Clients often want something unique and personal,' she says, 'and so we'll work closely together from the very start of the design process.

'I enjoy playing with design – simplifying, reducing and styling the elements so that the composition is strong. The ideas behind the work mean that every project has depth and every project is unique.'