About GBUK

The Origins of the Society

There have been several pioneers of glass beadmaking in this country over the years, the society owes its origins to the resurgence of interest in lampworking in the USA. Some of these bead artists have braved the challenge of awakening interest in the UK.

First among these was Kate Drew-Wilkinson, who with the help of the organising skills of Barbara Beadman and the facilities of Plowden & Thompson (P&T), taught many of us the basics of flameworking. The enthusiasm, skills and encouragement of several members is keeping the ‘flame’ alive.

Our Objectives:

• The sharing and dissemination of information of making glass beads through networking
• The furtherance of educational opportunities in the field of glass bead making.

Membership:

• Regular membership is open to all people who have an interest in the methods and processes of making glass beads
• Honorary membership is allocated by vote.

Committee Members:

• Chairman - Charlotte Dakin-Norris
• Secretary- Kate Sullivan
• Treasurer - Sue Wigmore
• Membership Secretary - Barbara Mason
• Newsletter Coordinator - Sabine Little
• Website and IT - Richard Downton

Honorary Members:

• Kate Drew-Wilkinson
• Kate Fowle Meleney

To join GBUK please use the form on the Join Us page.
To contact GBUK please use the contact form

I would like to announce to the GBUK that I will be coming over the big pond this summer from my home in Bisbee Arizona to spend time with family and friends and to offer Advanced bead making classes.

For the past two years I was too busy taking care of my gallery and writing a new book to make it back, England being my original home.

I will be making myself available both in Great Britain and France throughout the summer, arriving at the beginning of July to give the first course at Plowden and Thompson.

For those of you who don't know this, glass bead making classes in Great Britain had their origins  at P+T. they built that first class room for me in 1989 and had to make the first annealing kiln, to my rather vague instructions, and I hope this relic is still available to be seen there... It belongs in a museum in my opinion!

Anyway, the next place during that same summer in which I gave classes was The Old Kennels in Dunkeswell, Devonshire. Tracey Bell and family built that classroom also. It was sheer madness. The torches and glass had to be rushed down from P+T to be set up for that week of classes and afterwards, the torches rushed back to P+T to be ready for their next sessions.

We were all so keen to get started in helping new pupils find their way into glass bead making. Diana East came to the United States at my invitation to learn not only the craft but also how to teach beginners and her first teaching classes were through Plowden and Thompson. This is all history now and you all know how fast and how wonderfully the glass bead movement has grown,  thanks to the work of the GBUK and a number of renowned teachers both from the USA and Europe,

I have now reached the ripe old age of 70 and can have no idea how many more years I have left to pass on my knowledge not only in lamp work but also in designing jewelry with the beads, marketing and anything else I can share with you.

I come to England at my own expense.  Most teachers from the USA expect their travel expenses to be included in their fees, but since I have family to visit I feel it is only fair to do it this way.

If anyone would like to set up a minimum of three days with me during this summer, please email me at beads@theriver.com as soon as possible because I cannot set them up at short notice. I teach a maximum of five pupils in glass bead making in any class because I feel that larger numbers do not allow true learning. Jewellery making, design and marketing sessions are welcome to any number of you!