Ian marks 30 years of glass art business with 'connected' sculptures
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One of Thurso’s smallest businesses – and arguably its quirkiest – is celebrating 30 years of trading this week.
Glass Creations, based in a small workshop in the town's Riverside Road, was started by Ian Pearson with his late wife Maureen in June 1990.
The building was originally Highland Omnibuses' parcel office before becoming a second-hand book shop and upholsterers called Wood Goods and Chattels.
It has gone on to become the focal point for Ian's unique, intricate and highly personalised style of glass art.
When Ian’s wife Maureen died in 2005 he vowed to continue the business as sole proprietor.
He said: “Over the years the local community have been very supportive of my work and their appreciation has been instrumental in my continuing as a glass artist."
Ian (66) admitted that he is always on the lookout for a new building, explaining: “Although the building is the perfect size for my operations, I do get fed up when the river floods. And the building is showing signs of old age – as am I, of course!”
To celebrate the anniversary, Ian has made 30 sculptures – each depicting a couple of figures in different positions and stages of being connected.
“I wanted to express the importance of being connected through my glass art, which technically is all about connecting one piece of glass to another," Ian said.
"I started the series of sculptures in January before the pandemic restrictions and had no idea then how relevant the theme of being connected was going to be.”
His installation of “connections” can be viewed in the online exhibition of the Society of Caithness Artists along with more than 80 other artists. The exhibition will go live on July 1 and continue until July 31.
Ian is chairman of the society, whose 2020 show had been due to take place at the Engineering, Technology and Energy Centre before being cancelled due to the pandemic. The exhibition is the oldest of its kind in Scotland.
“I had further plans to commemorate the 30 years of Glass Creations which included demonstrations, artist talks, an exhibition and making a short video of my glasswork, accompanied by specially commissioned music," Ian said. "Of course these could not take place in the present climate of social distancing, but I hope to plan some special events in 2021.”
Ian came to Thurso in July 1981 from Hemel Hempstead as a scientific glassblower to take over the glass department at Dounreay, and retired in 2018. As well as making scientific glassware for all the chemistry labs at Dounreay, he got involved in doing glass demonstrations for many organisations around the county and this experience gave him the idea of starting his own glass art business.
The 30th anniversary will be on Thursday, June 25.
