Meet the Maker - Catriona MacKenzie

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

We are delighted to introduce our latest Meet the Maker interview - Catriona MacKenzie. Catriona creates stunning glassware, which are currently gracing the shelves of our Made in Britain shop.  Here is a little more about her...
Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work? 
Hi. My name is Catriona MacKenzie, and as the name suggests, I am a Highland Lass. I’m the maker behind CatMacKGlass, and I specialise in blown and lampworked glass pieces. 

Apart from creating things what else do you enjoy doing? 
Music is a definite love of mine.  I sing in a choir and listen to as much music as I can. I also like cooking, crocheting, laughing loudly and walking. 

Where does your inspiration come from? 
Everywhere! From the natural to the man-made. It could be a simple texture or colour combination that inspires me, or even geometric shapes and patterns I see around me. 
Describe your studio or workspace? 
I hire glass studios, but I do have a wee box-room in our cottage where I silversmith and procrastinate. It’s small, but has great light and is always nice a cosy. 

What is a typical work day for you? 
Hmmm, well, there are usually lots of cups of tea involved. I’m also quite a methodical person so I tend to do runs of one thing. I try not to fleet too much between jobs, but it happens from time to time! I also think it is important to get some fresh air, so I will always make time for a wee trip outside (maybe to watch the frogs and dragonflies in our pond). 

What do you love most about what you do? 
Glass is an amazing material to work with! Its unique qualities make it beautiful, exciting and addictive. I would describe my style as graphic. I like to play with the glass and the layering properties it encourages. It always amazes me that something so delicate and fragile is made from a material that when hot, is like runny honey, and incredibly malleable. 

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?
Lucian Freud. His portraits are so expressive and full of character. I saw a recent exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery. Outstanding! 
Which local artist/maker do you most admire? 
I have two particular favourites at the moment. Meryl Till, who is a Ceramicist on the Christmas steps. She makes utterly stunning lights from porcelain. And Emily Ketteringham – her prints of Bristol are in a graphic style that I just love!! 
Tell us your current loves
ShopWorkshop 22 on Upper Maudlin St. Great range of Craft maker’s work. and the nicest girls you can meet! 
Restaurant / Café Primrose Café, Clifton Village. Breakfasts to die for! 
Blog - I don’t tend to read blogs. Instead I surf Twitter and Facebook, but I shall start reading the Made In Bristol blog for sure! 
MagazineCraft & Design. have just wan their Silver Award for my glass, which is always an added bonus!
Book – Currently reading “The unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” Still a bit to go before I can comment. 
Designer / maker / artist - I think that changes daily! But I have always loved Lino Tagliapetra’s Glass. He is outstanding! 

If you were stranded in the wild somewhere, what item would you need with you the most? 
A rescue flare? And a warm jumper!

Thank you Catriona, your glass work is absolutely stunning!  You can find out for yourselves how wonderful Catriona's work really is, come down to our Made in Britain shop!

Made in Britain
Quakers Friars
Cabot Circus
Bristol
Opens Daily:
Mon - Sat:  10am - 6pm
Sun:  11am - 5pm

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