Devon glass artist shortlisted at the Holt Festival

Eighteen months ago, fused glass artist Susan Purser Hope left her home in Cromer and moved to Devon (Brixham). Now she is back, as her work has been shortlisted for the prestigious Charlotte Fraser Ceramics and Glass Prize at the Holt Arts Festival. Situated in the beautiful Georgian town of Holt and outlying venues, the Holt Arts Festival offers the best in music, theatre, fine art and the spoken word in a glorious celebration of the arts.

Susan was fascinated by the interaction between the crab fishermen and the sea. As she explains, “The fishermen use their rusty old tractors to drag their boats up and down Cromer beach. Their tractor tyres create a myriad of shapes and designs in the sand which are then washed away by the tide. During the pandemic I walked the beaches and photographed these temporary indentations which somehow echoed the then transitory fragility of our lives. “

Susan made a decal from her photograph and fused it onto a white glass panel. She then created a formalised pattern taken from the tyre tracks and fused coloured elements, frits and stingers together on the other panel to show the contrast between randomness and order.

Susan’s work is exhibited at the Glandford Studios, Manor Farm Barns, Glandford, Nr Holt, NR25 7JP from Thursday, 20th to Saturday 29th July. Opening times are 10.00am to 5.00pm. The winner of the Charlotte Fraser Ceramics and Glass Prize will be announced at the Private View on Sunday, 23rd July at 6pm. Susan has her fingers crossed!