Have you ever been told you are not artistic?  Well that happened to Gill Peterson, owner and creator of Artopia Glassworks, at school.  Her art teacher was not very encouraging and Gill decided that appreciating art and not expressing her creativity was her lot in life, despite an artistic family background.  Her grandfather was an excellent artist and her uncle a graphic designer.

After many years in the workforce she decided to have a go at something artistic.  She completed a 10 week course in mosaics with Helen Harman and has not looked back.

Gill carried on learning mosaics with Helen and then they started Artopia, a mosaic studio together, teaching the art of mosaics and supplying mosaic materials.  During that time Gill was encouraged to expand her horizons and did a professional development course in Glass Fusing and Slumping.  This has become her passion.

After 2 years they closed the shop and Gill set up a studio in the garage of her home and now she produces her work there.  She also teaches the basic skills involved in glass fusing and slumping from those premises as well as providing a workshop for others to use to produce their own pieces.  Gill offers raw materials, tools and a firing service at competitive prices.

Gill carries on her hobby of mosaics and now has a love of quilting and patchwork too.

This just goes to show that everyone can be creative.  Everyone can express their creativity in their own way.  It only needs a little encouragement and enthusiasm to be released.

The art of glass is only limited by your imagination.