Thomas Petit started his craft experience in the world of
clay while at school and despite his determination to be the next Bernard Leach
he was encouraged to try other artistic mediums to broaden his mind and
experience. Remembering a childhood visit to the Dartington Crystal
Factory to watch glassblowing, he set about searching for small courses and
found one with Norman Stuart-Clarke in Cornwall. Mesmerised with this new and
exciting material, clay was almost completely forgotten about.
Then determined to be a glassmaker and realising an apprenticeship
was not going to be financially viable, Thomas took up a voluntary position at
The Glasshouse in Covent Garden. Higher
Education followed and then with various jobs in the UK and New Zealand, Thomas
moved to live and work on the edge of the Peak District, in Derbyshire.
In 2016 he realised he was often missing opportunities due
to the limitations of his availability so jettisoned the full-time job to
concentrate wholly on his glass business and expand the number of galleries and
shows.
“I draw upon many influences in the creation of my
glassware, from the broad spectrum of the Arts and my own photography, to
everyday objects and experiences. When I
set out to design a new range I usually have a set of colour combinations in
mind. I often try to visualise what they will look like in my head and jot down
notes about possible colours and techniques. Unfortunately, ideas that worked
in the mind or on paper often look considerably different in the glass medium,
so I will keep experimenting with them until I get the desired effect.
Sometimes it is the happy accidents that spark off the best idea.
My Shore ranges were influenced by my childhood outings in
East Sussex, where we used to walk for hours over the South Downs and coastal
valleys to the sea, with Cuckmere being a firm favourite. I wanted to try to
capture the flint and cobbled beaches of this area in an abstract beachside
landscape. Since the original Sea Shore ranges, ‘Flint’ & ‘Waves’, there
have been hybrids and different coloured backgrounds, and the range continues
to evolve
All pieces are ground by hand, and each stopper is made for
an individual bottle. I hope the piece of my glassware you bought brings you
lots of enjoyment.”