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All about me

Welcome to my website! My name is Jo. I am a stained glass artist from the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Working from my studio in Lydney Park estate, I create bespoke windows, I take on window repairs and I teach classes in the various construction methods for stained glass. I’m within easy travelling distance from Bristol, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Hereford and Cardiff.

Classes

If you love craft classes you’ve come to the right place! I run both full day and half day classes. I also collaborate with other crafters, to provide combined classes with other crafts such as mosaic , fused glass, and printmaking. If you would like 1 to 1 tuition classes I can also provide this. Please see my classes page for more information on all my classes, follow me on social media, or email me on jowsnowdon@gmail.com or type your email in the box below and subscribe to my email newsletter.

Reviews

4.9
Based on 19 reviews
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Samantha Larsen
10:47 18 Jul 24
Warm friendly and fun, wonderful creative day, thoroughly enjoyed it and loved my piece of stain bed glass, I'll be back!
Sandra Nicholas
11:33 27 May 24
Really good day, thank you Jo. Use of all tools and glass. Took our own lunch, Jo provided the tea/coffee and unlimited help!
Marie Peters
17:06 12 Jan 24
Lovely 😍. A fabulous session for me and my best friend making sun catchers. Jo was a brilliant teacher - calm, clear and just the right amount of supportive! Each process was enjoyable, especially choosing from the huge choice of beautiful coloured glass and soldering. Best of all we walked away with our own handmade pieces to treasure. Thanks Jo!
rob wyborn
09:00 06 Nov 23
Wow - what a fantastic day. Jo is a wonderful teacher, both patient and fun. A great balance of demonstration and explanation. If only my soldering had been as free-flowing as the coffee - a brilliant day 🙂
Suggsy Blackburn
18:16 24 Mar 23
We had a Dad & Daughter Bonding Day with Jo. We had a wonderful day and went away with 2 treasures which will form memory reminders for us both.Jo was an absolute pleasure and explained things clearly, all in a very relaxed atmosphere.I'm sure we will return.
Sue Winter
16:45 18 Mar 23
I have always wanted to "have a go" at making a stained glass piece. Jo was the perfect person to go to. Great teacher. Thanks so much.
bianca meyer
19:21 15 Nov 22
What a gem of a place, we had a fantastic day with Jo learning the ways of making beautiful pieces of art with stained glass. A truly wonderful experience had by all! Highly recommended & thank you to Jo for being a brilliant teacher.
Sue Keen
19:55 28 Nov 21
Still buzzing from an amazing day spent with my best friend at Jo Snowdon's Stained Glass full day course. What an incredible experience it was. We never expected to come away with such beautiful pieces of art (well we thought they were!) Jo is a lovely person & certainly knows her craft. The whole day was informal, a great laugh & a wonderful experience - we both cannot wait to go again. I thoroughly recommend this course & I would be happy to buy a course with Jo as a gift for someone & even better I would be delighted if my husband bought me another day with Jo Snowdon Stained Glass.
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Commissions

I work in both traditional lead and copper foil, depending on the the window. A smaller window with more intricate detail often requires the more versatile copper foil technique, whereas a bigger window can be constructed more easily using lead came. If the window is exterior then I use lead came to allow for expansion and contraction. Once cemented, even a large window will be robust and rigid. I always frame my windows with either steel reinforced lead came or zinc came, which gives good structural strength.

A commissioned window for a bathroom

I am inspired by many different styles of stained glass, from the beautiful rose windows of gothic cathedrals, to the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany and William Morris, and the incredible windows designed by Antoni Gaudi.

My personal work tends to lean towards the abstract and often includes circular bubbles and long flowing lines.

Private commission for a home in Gloucestershire

I love to paint on glass using traditional Reusche paints. Once the glass is painted it goes into my kiln overnight to be fired. After firing, the paint becomes part of the glass. I try to include some painted pieces into my commission work if time and budget allows for it.