A beautiful display of engraved glass has gone on show in the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park in Dorset, offering plenty of unique gift ideas in the run up to Christmas.
The exhibition by the South West Guild of Glass Engravers, which opened on Wednesday 26th November 2025, will continue until Sunday 7th December 2025, from 10.30 am to 4 pm daily.
Sue Burne from the South West Guild of Glass Engravers adds a message to a glass Christmas card
Create a glass Christmas card
As well as the opportunity to see the guild’s work, there is the chance for visitors to try their hand at glass engraving by creating a glass Christmas card with their own message. Alternatively, one of the guild members can engrave the words instead.
Sue Burne, who is an associate fellow of the Guild of Glass Engravers and a former chair of the guild, said:
“One of the good things about glass engraving is that you can create something quite spectacular quite easily as a beginner, and it’s nice to take home something that’s really good, right from the first attempt. But after that, it does take years to perfect the skill.
“Our south-west branch usually plans to put on an exhibition here at Durlston every two years. Isn’t this a gorgeous venue to have?
“Normally, we struggle to light our glass, but we haven’t had to put any lights in the cabinets because of the amazing natural light shining through the windows from across the sea.
“To reflect the location, we’ve tried to bring along sea-related items like the ship and the bottle and the octopus bowl for visitors to browse.”
Ship on a Bottle by Rob Page
Creature of the Sea bowl by Pete Lightowler
Dedicated to the art of glass engraving
The Guild of Glass Engravers is the only organisation in the UK specifically dedicated to the art of glass engraving, with the south-west branch still going strong since it was formed in March 1979.
There are nine members of the guild who have put their work on display for the exhibition:
- Alan Brimson
- Amanda Lawrence
- Andy Hall
- Christopher Ainslie
- Herbie Davies
- Pete Lightowler
- Rob Page
- Sue Burne
- Viv Marshall
A collection of delicately engraved glasses and gifts ideal for Christmas
Sue Burne with her beautiful blue vase that she had specially blown in order to engrave it
“Saving glass objects”
Sue said:
“The important thing about engraving is to use high quality glass but unfortunately it is getting harder to obtain as there are issues with producing lead crystal safely due to the lead content.
“However one solution is to hunt for decent glass in charity shops. Often you can find an odd decanter or single plain glass by a manufacturer like Dartington, and I can make it into something special.
“I enjoy saving glass objects that would probably just be thrown away otherwise and last a million years in landfill.”
Three Marvellous Micromoth glass wall plaque by Amanda Lawrence
Etched glass pictures of birds and animals by Alan Brimson
“We are living in the age of glass”
The exhibition has a wide variety of styles and objects from practical items like vases to etched glass panels to hang on a wall.
There’s also coloured glass, different contemporary patterns, and varying designs to suit different tastes.
Sue added:
“Glass is very permanent – It won’t fade or deteriorate, so it’s ideal as an heirloom to pass down through the generations, and should last longer than a painting.
“It’s said we are living in the age of glass. Everywhere we look, there is glass, whether that’s the screen of our laptop or phone, or beautiful objects, like we have here in the gallery!”
Viv Marshall’s plate which was saved by the Japanese art of repairing broken items called Kintsugi, to create a unique object
Sea Eagles by Andy Hall
Glass engraving workshop
Anyone who may be inspired by the exhibition can sign up for a glass engraving workshop by Rob Page from the South West Guild of Glass Engravers.
It is being held 11 am to 12.30 pm on Saturday 13th December 2025 in the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park and costs £15 per person. Suitable for children over the age of 8 years and adults.
Moths and Butterflies vase by Herbie Davies
Stunning engraved blue glass plaques by Christopher Ainslie
Further information
- More about the Guild of Glass Engravers
- Sign up to the glass engraving workshop at Durlston Country Park
