Thomas Petit

Like many glass artists, Thomas started his craft experience in the world of clay while at school, and despite his determination to be the next Bernard Leach, he was encouraged to try other artistic mediums to broaden his mind and experience.

Remembering a childhood visit to the Dartington Crystal Factory to watch glassblowing, Thomas set about searching for small courses and found one with Norman Stuart-Clarke in Cornwall. He was mesmerised with this new and exciting material, and clay was almost completely forgotten about.

Following a voluntary position at The Glasshouse in Covent Garden and and various jobs in the UK and New Zealand, Thomas now lives and works on the edge of the Peak District, in Derbyshire.

In 2016 Thomas jettisoned his full-time job to concentrate wholly on his glass business.

Thomas draws upon many influences in the creation of his glassware, from the broad spectrum of the Arts and his own photography, to everyday objects and experiences.

When he sets out to design a new range he usually has a set of colour combinations in mind. He will often try to visualise what they will look like in his head and jot down notes about possible colours and techniques. Unfortunately, ideas that worked in the mind or on paper often look considerably different in the glass medium, so he will keep experimenting with them until he gets the desired effect. Sometimes it is the happy accidents that spark off the best idea.

Thomas's Shore ranges were influenced by his childhood outings in East Sussex, where he used to walk for hours over the South Downs and coastal valleys to the sea. He wanted to try to capture the flint and cobbled beaches of this area in an abstract beachside landscape. Since the original Sea Shore ranges, ‘Flint’ & ‘Waves’, there have been hybrids and different coloured backgrounds, and the range continues to evolve.