About Us
About the Cheshire School of Glass
Tucked away in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, our converted barn studio has been helping people discover the joy of working with glass for over a decade. Whether you’re a complete beginner curious about trying something new, or an experienced maker looking to expand your skills, we’re here to guide you on your glass art journey.
Our Story
The Cheshire School of Glass began with a simple idea – that everyone should have the chance to experience the magic of creating something beautiful with glass. Our founder and lead instructor, Jennifer Barker, transformed a traditional Cheshire barn into a fully equipped glass art studio where learning happens in a relaxed, supportive environment.
What started as small classes for local craft enthusiasts has grown into one of the region’s most respected glass art schools, welcoming students from across the UK and beyond. But we’ve never lost sight of what makes us special – personal attention, expert teaching, and the peaceful countryside setting that makes every visit feel like a creative retreat.
Meet Jennifer Barker
Glass artist, teacher, and all-round glass enthusiast
Jennifer has been playing with glass for over 30 years now, and she still gets that same excited feeling every time she opens a kiln! What started as a university course at Wolverhampton (where she earned her BA in Glass Design with First Class Honours) quickly became a lifelong obsession. She went on to complete her MA in Glass and Business at Staffordshire University – because let’s face it, someone has to keep track of the business side of things too!
From Student to Studio Owner
Back in 1997, fresh out of university at just 22, Jennifer took the plunge and set up her first independent studio. Looking back, she admits it was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating! She started out as a hot glass blower but soon discovered her true passion lay in kiln-formed work – there’s something magical about the way glass transforms in the kiln that just captured her imagination.
In 2000, she founded Melt Designs, which has grown from a tiny studio operation into one of the UK’s longest established glass art companies. Her work now graces everything from private homes and restaurants to hospitals and even super-yachts! But don’t worry – she hasn’t gone all fancy on us. Jennifer still loves teaching complete beginners just as much as creating those high-end commissions.
The Teaching Bug
For 12 years, Jennifer was Head of the Glass Department at Glyndwr University, where she discovered that teaching glass art was almost as addictive as making it. There’s nothing quite like seeing someone’s face light up when they successfully complete their first piece of fused glass or finally master that tricky cutting technique.
These days, you’ll find her here at the Cheshire School of Glass, sharing everything she’s learned over three decades. Whether you’ve never touched a piece of glass before or you’re looking to push your skills to the next level, Jennifer has this wonderful knack for meeting you exactly where you are. She’s patient with absolute beginners (we’ve all been there!) but also loves the challenge of working with more experienced students who want to explore advanced techniques.
What Makes Jennifer Special
Jennifer specializes in kiln-formed glass techniques – that’s glass fusing, slumping, and casting for those new to the terminology. She’s particularly known for her nature-inspired work that plays with light in the most beautiful ways. Think rich, vibrant colours that seem to glow from within, and textures that make you want to reach out and touch them.
Her “Alchemy” courses, focusing on reactive Bullseye glass techniques, are legendary among glass enthusiasts. But don’t let that intimidate you – Jennifer genuinely believes that anyone can learn to work with glass, and she’ll prove it to you!
The Human Side
What students love most about Jennifer is that she never makes anyone feel silly for asking questions (there are no stupid questions in glass, only learning opportunities!). She’s been there, done that, and made pretty much every mistake in the book – and she’s happy to share those stories to help you avoid the same pitfalls.
When she’s not teaching or working on commissions, you’ll often find Jennifer experimenting with new techniques or hunting down interesting glass supplies. She’s the kind of person who gets genuinely excited about a new type of glass or a different firing schedule – and that enthusiasm is absolutely infectious.
Ready to Learn?
Whether you’re looking to try glass art for the first time or you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, Jennifer would love to meet you. She firmly believes that working with glass should be joyful, creative, and maybe just a little bit addictive. Come along to one of her courses and discover why glass has captured her heart for over 30 years – we have a feeling it might capture yours too!
“Glass has this amazing ability to surprise you. Just when you think you know what it’s going to do, it shows you something completely new. That’s what keeps me coming back, day after day, year after year. And I love sharing that sense of wonder with my students.” – Jennifer
Meet Kat Watson
Stained glass artist, conservator, and keeper of ancient secrets (that she’s happy to share!)
Kat has been working magic with stained glass for over 20 years, and she still gets a thrill every time she holds a piece of freshly cut glass up to the light. What started as an MA in Glass at Sunderland University back in 2004 has turned into a career restoring some of Britain’s most treasured windows – and teaching others to fall in love with this amazing craft.
From Art School to Real-World Adventures
Straight out of university, Kat landed a job at Recclesia Stained Glass in Chester – one of the UK’s top conservation studios. It was like being thrown in at the deep end, but in the best possible way! She’s now the Conservation Studio Manager there, which sounds very fancy but really means she gets to spend her days solving puzzles that are hundreds of years old.
Her biggest claim to fame? Leading the restoration of Manchester Town Hall’s stained glass – all 390 panels containing 42,000 individual pieces of glass and 127,000 soldered joints. Yes, someone actually counted them all! It was like the world’s most beautiful (and fragile) jigsaw puzzle. But don’t worry – she’s just as passionate about helping you create your very first small panel as she is about tackling these massive heritage projects.
The Teaching Heart
Kat discovered early on that she has a real gift for teaching, and honestly, we think she enjoys it just as much as the conservation work. For over 15 years, she’s been sharing her knowledge with students of all levels, and she has this wonderful way of making even the most complex techniques feel achievable.
Her signature “Stained Glass for All” courses at Cheshire School of Glass are legendary among students. The name says it all – Kat genuinely believes that anyone can learn traditional stained glass techniques, whether you’re 8 or 80! She’s worked with everyone from complete beginners who’ve never held a glass cutter to professional artists looking to add stained glass to their repertoire.
What Makes Kat Special
Kat works with a number of specialist glasses including traditional mouth-blown glass (she’s particularly fond of Lamberts glass from Germany – “some of the finest in the world,” she’ll tell you with genuine excitement). She’s a master of the ancient arts of glass cutting, leading, and kiln-fired painting, but she explains everything in a way that makes sense to modern minds.
What’s really special about learning from Kat is that she bridges two worlds. She knows all the historical techniques that have been passed down through centuries, but she also understands modern conservation science. This means you’re not just learning pretty craft techniques – you’re learning skills that could help preserve irreplaceable cultural treasures.
The Human Side
Students absolutely love Kat’s approach to teaching. She’s endlessly patient (seriously, we’ve never seen her lose her cool), has a great sense of humour about the inevitable mishaps that happen when learning, and genuinely celebrates every small victory. She remembers what it was like to be a beginner, and she never makes anyone feel foolish for asking questions.
One of her favourite projects was working with local school children in Rochdale, helping them design and create permanent stained glass panels for their library. Watching her work with those kids – some as young as 8 – really shows you how passionate she is about sharing this craft with everyone.
This was a project commissioned by Rochdale Council. They ran a competition between schools and community groups to design a window which was done independently in their own settings. Kat was issued with the winning 6 designs which she then interpreted into glass using a series of glass techniques including fusing. The children came to the studio to see what it entails to be a stained glass artist. Kat has also given quite a few stained glass talks to school children. Read more about the Rochdale project.
Famous (But Still Down-to-Earth!)
You might have seen Kat on Channel 4’s “Old House New Home” series, where she helped presenter George Clarke with some bespoke window work. But don’t let the TV appearances fool you – she’s still the same approachable, enthusiastic teacher who gets genuinely excited when students master their first piece of glass cutting.
Her conservation work appears regularly in heritage magazines when Recclesia is featured, and she collaborates regularly with big names like English Heritage and the National Trust in conserving their beautiful buildings. But in the classroom, she’s just Kat – someone who absolutely loves what she does and can’t wait to help you discover the magic of stained glass too.
Ready to Give It a Go?
Whether you’ve always admired stained glass from afar or you’re looking to develop serious conservation skills, Kat would love to welcome you into the wonderful world of colored light. She promises that working with stained glass is addictive in the best possible way – there’s something about the way light dances through colored glass that just captures your soul.
Come along to one of her courses and discover why she’s been obsessed with this ancient art form for over two decades. Fair warning though – you might just find yourself planning your next window before you’ve even finished your first one!
“Every piece of glass has its own personality, and every window tells a story. I love helping people discover their own stories through glass – whether that’s creating something completely new or bringing an old window back to life.” – Kat
Our Philosophy
We believe that working with glass should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we keep our class sizes small, so everyone gets the individual attention they need to succeed. Whether you’re 18 or 80, artistic or practical-minded, we’ll find the right approach to help you create something you’re genuinely proud of.
Safety is paramount in everything we do. We provide all protective equipment and teach proper techniques from the very first cut. Many of our students arrive nervous about working with glass and leave feeling confident and capable.
We’re not about rushing through techniques or churning out identical pieces. Every student works at their own pace, develops their own style, and takes home something uniquely theirs.
Our Studio
Our converted barn studio combines traditional Cheshire character with modern glass-making facilities. Set in peaceful countryside near Frodsham, it’s the perfect environment for creative learning – far enough from the everyday world to feel like a proper escape, but easily accessible from Manchester, Liverpool, and North Wales.
The studio features:
- Fully equipped glass cutting stations
- Professional kilns for fusing and enamelling
- Traditional stained glass equipment
- Extensive glass library and reference materials
- Comfortable seating areas for design planning
- Tea, coffee, and treats always available
Inside, our comfy break area provides a lovely space for breaks when the weather’s bad, and the rural setting means you can truly relax and focus on your creative work.
What Makes Us Different
- Small Classes: Proper individual attention for everyone.
- Expert Instruction: Learn from qualified professionals with decades of experience and ongoing commercial practice.
- Complete Courses: You’ll finish every course with completed pieces, not half-finished projects.
- All Materials Included: Glass, tools, kiln firing – we provide everything except your creativity.
- Flexible Approach: Can’t make scheduled dates? We often arrange private sessions or alternative dates.
- Ongoing Support: Questions after your course? We’re always happy to help via email or phone.
- Beautiful Setting: Our countryside location makes every course feel like a creative retreat.
Our Students
We’ve taught everyone from complete beginners taking their first tentative steps with glass, to professional artists exploring new techniques. Our students include:
- Retirees discovering new passions
- Busy professionals seeking creative stress relief
- Art students expanding their skills
- Gift experience recipients (often initially reluctant, always converted!)
- Local craft groups and friends celebrating special occasions
- Corporate teams building relationships through shared creativity
What they all have in common is leaving with a smile, finished pieces they’re proud of, and often, plans to return for more courses.
Community & Environment
We’re proud to be part of the vibrant Cheshire arts community and committed to sustainable practices wherever possible. Our kiln firings are planned efficiently to minimise energy use, we recycle glass offcuts, and source materials from UK suppliers when possible.
Many of our students have become friends, and it’s not uncommon to see groups returning together for different courses or seasonal workshops. We love fostering this sense of community around shared creative interests.
Looking Ahead
While we’re proud of what we’ve built, we’re always evolving. We regularly introduce new techniques, seasonal workshops, and special projects. Recent additions include our popular Christmas decoration courses and garden glass workshops that celebrate the connection between art and nature.
Our goal remains the same as when we started – creating a place where anyone can discover the joy of working with glass in a supportive, inspiring environment.
Visit Us
The Cheshire School of Glass is located at Bradley Farm, Bradley Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire WA6 7EP. We’re easily accessible from the M56 and have space for parking right outside the studio.
Whether you’re ready to book a course or just curious about what we do, Jennifer and the team are always happy to have a chat. Give us a call or drop us an email.
We’d love to help you discover what you can create with glass.