Timothy Harris

Glassblower

Pushing the limits of glass

Timothy is following in his glassmaker father’s footsteps
He is a world-leading designer and maker of studio glass
He loves testing the possibilities of glass

Timothy Harris, one of only a few second generation glassmakers, is the eldest son of the late Michael Harris, who was one of the originators of the British studio glass movement. From an early age, Timothy was attracted by the heat, fire and smoke of his father’s studio; by the time he was 13, he would stand on a beer crate to gather glass from the furnace. Today, his work can be found in private collections, galleries, museums and shops around the world. Now one of the UK’s leading glass artists, Timothy has made pieces for several members of the British royal family including King Charles III, the Late Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother. Timothy is fascinated by working with multiple layers of glass and his designs are evocative of the colours, textures and forms found in nature.

Interview

How do you innovate in your work?: All the glassmaking techniques I use are traditional but I like integrating multinational approaches. English studio glass is utilitarian and has a purpose, but I also like to play with the shapes and clean lines of Swedish studio glass as well as the more risky processes of Italian multi-layering.
What do you love most about your craft?: I’m always trying to push my material and make it do things it doesn’t want to do! For example, logic says that plunging hot glass into a bucket of cold water won’t work, but in reality the outside cracks while the inside remains liquid – the result is a beautiful array of patterns.
What’s the most difficult part of your job?: Some people don’t realise how complicated some of the techniques are that I use in my work. It’s often a sweat to get to the end result and, even though I’ve been in the industry 40 years, I still agonise over decisions and processes. I guess that's part of the magic of making!
What is the highlight of your career so far?: In 2012, I was commissioned by the Isle of Wight to make a gift for HM The Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee. When I was invited to present it to her at a ceremony in Cowes, she commented that she was aware of my father's work. This meant a great deal to me personally; it's a moment I will never forget.

Timothy Harris is a master artisan: he began his career in 1979 and he started teaching in 1985