About Me
I am not an artist, nor do I make any pretention to be one. In truth I have very little artistic ability and my attempts at drawing bear significantly more resemblance to Lowry than Constable. However I can use a ruler and a compass and I’m proud to say that I can trace a design or use a photocopier as well as the next man. I am a typical average handyman, more familiar with B&Q than the Tate Gallery, and I do all my work on a small wooden table which doubles as an office desk in the corner of my conservatory
I consider my projects to be craft not art and as such all of them can be done by anyone with average DIY skills and large amounts of determination. My pleasure comes not just in producing something attractive but in the intellectual challenge of resolving how something, seemingly impossible, may be made and the search for the tools and materials to make it within my limited budget. Car boot sales and cheap foreign imported tools are a godsend.
Several years ago I took early retirement after working many years in a business environment. Whilst I have a wide variety of other interests my wife had concerns that I might become restless during the cold dark British winter so in an effort to pacify her I agreed that I would develop a new interest each year. In this regard I would allocate a maximum of £200 each year to occupy my mind and body during the bad weather. Having had an ongoing interest in glass over many years I decided to take a local authority evening class in stained glass. Those few short weeks fired an interest which has developed in all sorts of other directions over the years but has stayed fundamentally on projects using my hands.
None of the projects I’ve tackled to date has cost anywhere near £200 and in fact many of these have been virtually cost free. I have invested in tools and equipment, the most expensive of which has been my glass grinding machine, but I've also used many of the normal DIY tools I had lying around my garage. Don’t be afraid to spend money on your projects but make sure you only spend what you can afford. Chain stores like The Works and The Range have many of the materials and tools you might need and much of the remainder can be picked up at car boot sales. Even if you decide to invest in better tools and equipment later I urge you to start with cheap things first to see if your interest wains.
This website was written not with the intention of showing you how to duplicate my work or to teach you the intricacies of each technique. It was intended to give you inspiration in terms of sources, designs and ways to tackle the inevitable problems you will encounter. I’m simply hoping to introduce you to a way of thinking which might allow you to produce things bigger, brighter and more beautiful than my own. If you need advice on your project or want to know how I did something drop me a note and I’ll do my best to answer although please remember that I don’t hold any sort of magical knowledge and I'm not an expert on any of these subjects.
Finally, remember to always follow sensible safety advise, especially with glass and cutting knives, and make sure you enjoy what you're doing
Granville