​- Interview with Steve Yabsley on
​BBC Bristol Radio:  25/02/2024

My journey with glass began many years ago, when I first encountered the pâte de verre (glass paste) technique during my time at sixth form art school in Chester. This initial experience sparked a passion that led to studying 3D Design at University in Manchester where I specialised in glass. Throughout my studies, I honed my skills in glassblowing, cold working, and lamp working.

After university, I moved to the South West and began working at the Creative Glass Guild where I learnt techniques in fused glass, stained glass and stained glass painting. It was during this time I set up a workshop where I dedicated my spare time to making glass works on a commission basis and ran therapeutic art workshops for One25, a charity in St. Paul’s, Bristol.

In 2022 I decided to leave my workshop in Bristol and search for one in the countryside, I ended up finding one on a farm in Somerset and began working as a Conservator at Holywell Glass in Wells.

​As of this year my focus has shifted entirely to personal creative projects, including private commissions, artworks for exhibitions, and pieces for galleries, often in collaboration with craftsman Josh White. I continue to teach creative glass techniques, both at my workshop and the Bristol Folk House. Recently, I co-founded the Rock Farm Collective—a community café, shop, and gallery—where my workshop is now based.

I aim to create eye-catching artworks that explore new possibilities in glass techniques while highlighting the beauty of the natural world. I'm also passionate about teaching and love encouraging others to develop their own creativity.​
​

Awards/Memberships/ Funding:
2012- Winner. New Innovative Design. The Arts Council. London. UK
2019- Member of the Artists Newsletter. Arts Council. London. UK
2020- Member of Curator Space. Leeds. UK
2021- One25 Charity Funding. Mosaic Glass Course. Bristol, UK
2021- Member of the British Society of Master Stained Glass Painters. UK
2021- Member of the Contemporary Glass Society. Norfolk. UK
2022- Winter Series Funding. Fused Glass Courses. Provided by Shepton Mallet Council
2023- Jonathan Cooke Master Glass Painting. Swansea University. Provided by Future Bright. GB

Exhibitions (Museums/Galleries) and Workshops:
2005- Garden Design for the National Trust at Errdig. GB.
2006- Pate de Verre Glass Exhibition. The Arc. Chester. GB.
2008- 'Young Artists in Tuscany'. Mixed Media Exhibition. The former 'Winsford Lodge'. Windsford GB.
2011- 'Viva De Palestina'. Glass Exhibition. The Box. Manchester. GB.
2012- 'Degree Show'. Manchester Metropolitan University B.A. Student Mixed Media Exhibition. Quay House, Manchester                'On Bread Alone'. Mixed Media Exhibition. Nexus. Manchester. GB.
            'Ask Why?'. Manchester Metropolitan University 3-D Student Exhibition. The Quay. Salford. GB.
           'New Designers 2012: Part 1'. Manchester Metropolitan University @ The Business Design Centre. London. GB.
             'Living Brick' Salisbury Arts Centre. Salisbury. GB.
             'Home'. Mixed Media Exhibition. The Funky Aardvark. Chester. GB.
              Up-Cycling & Jewellery Workshop. Green & Away. Worcester. GB.
2014- 'Hamswell Festival Lake'. Mixed Media Event. Bath. GB.
2015- 'Metamorphosis'. Glass Exhibition. Park Street Gallery. Bristol. GB.
2016- 'Aviary Sculpture Exhibition' Bristol Botanic Gardens. Bristol. GB.
            'Pop-Up Craft Stall'. Mixed Media Event. Camarthen City Centre. Camarthen. GB.
2017- 'The Hive'. Touring Glass Installation. Hamilton House. Bristol./Noisily Festival. Leicester. GB.
2018-  'Speculo'. Glass Exhibition. Christmas Steps Gallery. Bristol. GB.
2019- 'Glass Market'. April Pebble Owens @ Llanvihangel Court & Picton Festival. Llanvihangel Crucorney and Bristol. GB.
             Weekly Art & Crafts Sessions. Peony/ One 25 Charity. Bristol GB
2020- 'Purity Wave'. Online Exhibition. Oil Painting. Exhibition. GB
2021- 'Glass Stall'. M32 Festive Market. Bristol. GB
             Fused Glass Vessels. Online. The Chuffed Store. London. GB
2021-2022-
'Centenary Exhibition'. The Stained Glass Museum. South Triforium, Ely Cathedral.
Ely./Winchester Cathedral. Winchester./All Saints Church. Clifton, Bristol./National
Waterfront Museum. Swansea./International Festival Of Glass. Stourbridge./
Cathedral. Wells. GB./ Cathedral. Worcester/ Festival of Arts. Oxford/ Cathedral.
Lichfield/ Cathedral. Manchester. GB
2022- 'I Spy'. Glass Exhibition. Buxton Pump Room. Buxton. GB.
            'Glass Stall'. Rock Farm Market & Bridge Farm Winter Fayre, Shepton Mallet and Bristol, GB
2023- Stained Glass Workshops @ Creative Space, Bedminster, Bristol, GB
            Stained Glass Workshops @ The Folk House Charity, Bristol, GB
            Stained Glass Workshops @ Rock Farm, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, GB
             Fused Glass Workshops @ Rock Farm, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, GB
            'Open Exhibition' @ Ace Arts, Somerton, Somerset, GB
           Stocking of Stained & Fused Glass Artworks. A2 Gallery. Wells. Somerset. GB
2024- "Sparkle! A spectrum of Contemporary Glass". Contemporary Glass Society @The Black Swan Art Gallery, Frome. GB              'Tutor Glass Exhibition'. Bristol Folk House. GB
            'British Glass Biennalle'. International Festival of Glass. The Glasshouse, Stourbridge, GB.
             Stocking of Stained & Fused Glass Artworks. Rock Farm Collective. Shepton Mallet. Somerset, GB
             'Glass Stall' Shepton Mallet Sunday Market, Somerset. GB
             'The Hive' Glass installation. Medicine Festival, Aldermaston. Reading. GB
             Stocking of Stained & Fused Glass Artworks Internationally. BOHA Glass. Online. Somerset. GB
             'Trena Cox: Reflections 100' @ Chester Cathedral. Chester City Centre. GB 
              Glass Mosaic Workshops @ Flourish, Keynsham. GB 
              Glass Mosaic Workshops @ The Folk House Charity, Bristol, GB
              Glass Mosaic Workshops @ Windsor Hill Wood Refuge, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, GB
              Glass Mosaic Workshops @ Rock Farm, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, GB
                                     
Collections (Museums/Private), Commissions:
2012- Willow Sculpture. Buddhist Retreat Centre. Brilley. GB.
2013- 'Living Brick Wall'. Eastern Yoga. Bristol. GB.
2014- Designed/Built Exterior Space. The Hub Healthcare. Bristol. GB.
2020- 'Kokopelli' Stained Glass Window. Residential Commission. Emily Musto. Knowle. Bristol GB
          'Swallows' Stained Glass Window. Residential Commission. Clare Owens. Chester. GB
           'For-get-me-not' Stained Glass. Residential Commission. Lesley Brown. Fishponds. Bristol GB
            'Curlew'. Stained Glass Sculpture. Private Commission. Anne Turner. Otley. GB
            'Paint Coasters'. Fused Glass. Private Commission. Millie Mowbray. Tetbury. GB
2021- 'Mandarin'. Stained Glass Sculpture. Private Commission. Sophie Gould. Chester. GB
          'Art Deco Panels' Stained Glass. Residential Commission. Rebecca Davies. Westbury. Bristol GB
           'Three Herons'. Stained Glass Window. Residential Commission. Bethan Hulse. Chester. GB
            'Sunrise'.  Leaded Glass. Residential Commission. Maxi Edwards. Boiling Wells. Bristol GB
            'Porthole' Leaded Glass. Residential Commission. Abigail Johnson. Bath. GB
            'Swallows' Restoration of Leaded Glass Panel. Danny Balla. Easton. Bristol.GB
           '3D Butterfly' Stained Glass Sculpture. Private Commission. Rosie Hawkins. Chester. GB
2022- 'Celtic Knot'. Leaded Glass. Residential Commission. Jacqueline Spencer. Clifton. Bristol GB
           'Magic in the Mountains'. Leaded Glass. Residential Commission. Sarah Gerrard. Chester. GB
            'Harlequin Panel' Restoration of Leaded Glass. Residential Commission. Abigail Johnson. Bath.GB
            'Estuary'. Leaded Glass. Residential Commission. Anne Hurst. Maldon. Essex. GB
2023-   'Art Deco Panels' Restoration of Leaded Lights. Old Market Assemblies. Bristol.GB
            'Lauterbrunnen'. Leaded Glass. Residential Commission. Lynne Morgan. Wells. GB
            'Let Me Sing' Stained Glass. Residential Commission. Stuart Moore. Wookey. Somerset. GB
            'Bubbly Panel'. Leaded Glass. Residential Commission. Alice Hopgood. London. GB
              'Art Nouveau Rose'. Restoration of Leaded Glass Panel. Residential Commission. Lee Ann. Shepton Mallet. GB     
 2024-   'Cornish Seaside Windows'. Leading of Stained Glass Windows. Residential Commission. Samantha Green. Burnham-on-Sea. GB
               'Flower Panel'. Restoration of Leaded Panel. Horse Box. Claire. Keynsham. GB
               'Baba Jaga'. Exhibition Sculpture. Black Swan Arts. Vivienne. Frome. GB
                'Two Fish' Painted & Leaded Glass Commission. Connie Haigh. Colwyn Bay. GB
               'A Golden Lock'. Painted & Leaded Glass Commission. Karen Carter Hairdressing. Pill. Somerset. GB
                'Dissent is Beautiful'. Painted & Leaded Glass Commission. Jennifer Witts. Keynsham. GB
                'Zig-Zag Window'. Restoration of Leaded Panel. Mr Chris. Bristol. GB
                'Golden Fern'. Fused Glass with Silver Stain Commission. Julie, Swansea. GB 
                'Amanaita Muscaria'. Exhibition Sculpture. Unknown Buyer. A2 Gallery, Wells. GB 
                'Baba Jaga'. Exhibition Sculpture. Unknown Buyer. British Glass Bienalle. Stourbridge. GB
                 
                                
Literature (Books/Magazines/Online):
2012- Sustainable Design Review. Online. Salisbury. GB
https://www.aprilpebble.co.uk/sustainable-design-review.html
Artist in Residence Statement. Green & Away Conference Centre.Worcester. GB
https://www.aprilpebble.co.uk/green--away-review.html
2020- Holywell Glass. Online. GB
www.holywellglass.com/team/
2022- The Journal of Stained Glass. BSMGP Centenary Issue. GB
2023- Craft Courses. Online. GB
www.craftcourses.com/providers/april-pebble
​2024- British Glass Bienalle 2024 Catalogue. 
ifg.org.uk/product/2024-british-glass-biennale-catalogue/
​

General Information:
Stained/Leaded Glass and Fused Glass Commissions and Courses


Education:
2007- Two Week Placement with Artist and Painter Val Kosh
2009-10. Artist In Residence. Queens Park Visual Arts School. Chester. GB.
2009-12. B.A. (Hons.) 3-D Design. Glass Blowing/ Metal Work/ Ceramics/ Woodwork and Plaster. Manchester            Metropolitan University. Manchester. GB.
2012- Artist In Residence. Ketley Brick Factory. Lee. GB.
           Artist In Residence. Green & Away. Worcester. GB.
2013- Artist In Residence. Ibstock Brick Factory. Almondsbury. GB.
2015- Life Drawing Classes. The Greenbank Pub. Bristol. GB
2015-16 R.H.S. Principles Of Horticulture (Level 2). Bristol Botanic Gardens. Bristol. GB.
2016- Brave Self-Employed Business Course. The Coach House. Bristol. GB.
2017- Stained Glass Painting Day Course. The Creative Glass Guild. Bristol. GB
           Leaded Light Weekend Course. The Creative Glass Guild. Bristol. GB
2018- Glass Mosaic Evening Course. Bath College. Bath. GB
           Further Fusing 6 Week Course. The Creative Glass Guild. Bristol. GB
2018-19. Art Therapy Online Course. The Centre Of Excellence. GB.
2020- Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Practice Course with the Charity Thrive. GB.
          Oil Painting Course. The Folk House. Bristol. GB
2021- Ecology & Wildlife Conservation Course. University Of Leeds. Leeds. GB.
          Further Glass Painting Day Course. Andrew Taylor. Devizes. GB
2022- Anatomy and Physiology Drawing. The Folk House. Bristol
2023- Glass Painting with Jonathan Cooke. Swansea University. GB
2020-2024 Glass Conservation & Restoration Training. Holywell Glass. Wells. GB