Using bis skills as both painter and craftsman, Tom Denny creates exquisitely coloured stained - glass windows that stir the senses with an evocative mix of finely observed, natural details and bold, dramatic visions.
As the low December sunlight streams through the glorious stained - glass windows in the tiny Audley Chapel - of Hereford Cathedral, Christmas worshippers are bathed in the refracted hues of rich reds and jcwcl - likc greens that heighten the festive atmosphere. Meanwhile, in the cathedrals of Durham and Gloucester, deep blues and golds suffuse the proceedings with an extra aura of drama and majesty; and in Great Malvern Priory, Worcestershire, the fiery reds and frosted pinks of a winter sunset hrighten the medieval interior as the congregation gathers. Each piece draws the eye with its intense shades, and is the inspirational, unmistakable work of stained - glass artist Tom Denny.
Although a flowing palette and elemental quality ot light unite his impressive body of work - to date, 50 different pieces for more than 30 ecclesiastical buildings - there are important differences, and not just in the scripture depicted. Alongside the evocative figures woven into the picture, finely observed images convey Toms love of nature and the character of the surrounding countryside. "This helps connect it to its setting," he says. "It makes it belong and thats very important for mc. I always start a project by taking long walks in the area and making drawings in my sketchbook," he says. "I love the individuality of different landscapes, particularly wild places that are beautiful at close quarters as well as at a distance."
Largely self - taught in stained glass, Tom began developing his unique style after studying painting at Edinburgh College of Art in the late 1970s. "There was a stained - glass department but 1 learned only the absolute basics," he recalls. "The idea of making work for particular places seemed exciting, however. Id always been intrigued by buildings - as a child, I would look at ruined castles and think about how I could transform them." Realising that stained glass offered a powerful, atmospheric medium for his dual interests in art and architecture, Tom worked at a traditional stained - glass workshop in Bristol and later created a studio at his parents house in Gloucestershire where he experimented with different processes to please his painters nature.
A glimpse inside the lofty, barn - like studio next to his Dorset home reveals just how much Toms glass is a seamless fusion of art and craft. This is where he spends hours working or. each fragment to create tones and textures that will suit the age and beauty of the building. From initial concept to finished piece takes months, if not years, the starting point a rough pencil sketch exploring ideas and layers of meaning. On his desk lie notebooks of sketches filled with his drawings and thoughts on a particular landscape, psalms and scriptures, along with books reflecting his diverse interests in art, architecture, flora and fauna.