Capture your beloved pet, favourite animal, or a creature that speaks to you in beautiful fused glass. Whether it’s your dog who’s been by your side for years, a majestic hare, a garden robin, or any animal that holds meaning for you – this course helps you create a glass portrait full of character and life.

We Brits are mad about our animals, and this course taps into that love. Using glass fusing techniques, coloured glass, frits, and glass paints, you’ll create an animal portrait that captures not just how they look, but their personality – that tilt of the head, the glint in their eye, the way they move. Many students create tributes to much-loved pets, while others are drawn to wildlife, farm animals, or creatures they simply find beautiful.

The finished pieces are genuinely moving – there’s something special about seeing your furry (or feathered, or scaly!) friend captured in glass that glows with light.

Please use the calendar above to select the course date and book

Can’t make the date? Please email us to register your interest at jen@cheshireschoolofglass.co.uk and we can let you know when further dates are added

What You’ll Learn

• Glass fusing fundamentals – cutting, shaping, and arranging glass
• Creating character and movement – techniques for bringing animals to life
• Working with glass paints – add fine details like eyes, whiskers, texture
• Using frits and powders – create fur texture, feathers, or scales
• Layering coloured glass – build depth and realistic colouring
• Composition and stance – capture that characteristic pose or expression

What You’ll Make

One animal portrait panel featuring the animal of your choice. The finished piece is perfect for displaying where light can shine through, bringing out all the colours and details.

Popular animal choices:

• Beloved pets – dogs, cats, rabbits, horses (bring a photo!)
• British wildlife – hares, foxes, owls, robins, hedgehogs
• Farm animals – sheep, cows, chickens, ducks
• Exotic creatures – elephants, giraffes, big cats, tropical birds
• Garden visitors – butterflies, bees, dragonflies
• Abstract or stylised animals – not photorealistic, but full of character

You can work from your own photograph (most people do this for pets), use images from our extensive library, or create a more stylised, artistic interpretation.

Perfect For

• Pet lovers wanting to immortalise their furry friends
• Anyone grieving a beloved pet (many students find this therapeutic)
• Wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers
• Creating meaningful gifts for animal-loving friends or family
• Horse owners, dog breeders, farmers – anyone passionate about animals
• Those who want a more personal, emotional glass art project

Why This Course is Special

There’s something deeply personal about capturing an animal in glass, especially your own pet. Students often get quite emotional when they see their dog or cat transformed into glowing glass art – it’s like capturing their spirit as well as their likeness.

The Transformation

Your piece fires overnight in the kiln where the magic happens – glass layers fuse together, colours intensify, and painted details become permanent. It’ll be ready for collection approximately one to two weeks after your course.

Collection from the studio recommended (the transformation is always lovely to see!), though posting available at your own risk (£8 minimum).

Bring Your Own Photo

Planning to create your pet? Bring a clear photograph that shows:

• Their face and expression clearly
• Good lighting (not too shadowy)
• A pose that captures their character

Jennifer will help you adapt any photo to work beautifully in glass. And if you’re not sure which photo to use, bring a few and she’ll advise on the day.

Experience Required: None – complete beginners welcome

Course Duration: Full day (10:00am – 4:30pm)

What’s Included: All glass, paints, frits, and materials; tools and equipment; kiln firing; tea/coffee and biscuits throughout

What to Bring:

• Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes
• Your own lunch
• Photo(s) of your pet or chosen animal (optional – we have image libraries too)

Take Home: One animal portrait panel (ready approximately one to two weeks after course)

Your Instructor: Jennifer Barker – 30+ years experience

Perfect Gift for Animal Lovers

This course makes an incredibly meaningful gift for:

• Dog or cat owners who adore their pets
• Horse lovers wanting their horse immortalised
• Someone grieving a pet – therapeutic and creates a lasting memorial
• Wildlife enthusiasts fascinated by British creatures
• Farmers or smallholders proud of their animals
• Anyone with a favourite creature they’d love to capture

Gift vouchers available

Display Ideas

Your animal portrait looks stunning:

• In a window where light shines through (brings the colours alive)
• On a lit stand with backlighting
• In the kitchen where you see it daily
• Bedroom or study as a personal piece
• Given as a gift to fellow animal lovers or breeders

The way light catches the glass paints and layered colours makes the animal almost seem alive – their eyes sparkle, colours glow, and details become luminous.

Different Styles Welcome

Your animal portrait can be:

• Realistic and detailed – as true-to-life as possible
• Stylised and artistic – simplified shapes, bold colours
• Abstract interpretation – capturing essence rather than exact likeness
• Impressionistic – more about feeling and movement

Jennifer adapts her guidance to match your vision and comfort level.

🐾 Capture your beloved animal in glass that glows with light 🐾

 

Your Tutor: Jennifer Barker – Lead Instructor & Founder

Jennifer has been working with glass for over 30 years, having discovered her passion for the medium while studying at Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Universities, where she completed a BA and MA in Glass.

Her expertise spans the full spectrum of glass techniques – from delicate kiln-formed pieces to large architectural installations. Jennifer’s specialist areas include kiln-formed glass, surface manipulation, and kiln-casting, but she’s equally passionate about traditional techniques like stained glass and copper foiling. 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.

What sets Jennifer apart as an instructor is her genuine love for sharing knowledge. She believes that anyone can learn to work with glass beautifully – it just takes the right guidance, encouragement, and plenty of hands-on practice.