lead-light-gallery

From Accountancy to Craftsmanship

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:38:27 GMT

How my journey started...

For over 25 years, stained glass and lead light windows have been a steady presence in my life. What began as a hands-on interest—helping, learning, and appreciating the artistry behind each piece—grew into something far more meaningful over time. The delicate balance of colour, light, and craftsmanship has always fascinated me, and being involved, even in a supporting role, has been a privilege.

However, my professional path lay elsewhere. I worked in accountancy specialising in company secretarial matters. While it provided stability and valuable experience, there was always a part of me that longed for a more artistic and creative job.

In April 2025, I made the decision to follow that pull. Leaving accountancy was not a step taken lightly. It meant moving away from a familiar and secure career into something less predictable but far more aligned with my passions. It was, in many ways, a leap—but one backed by decades of experience working alongside the craft.

Taking on a much more active role in The Leadlight Gallery marked the beginning of this new chapter. Instead of assisting from the sidelines, I am now fully immersed in the day-to-day work: engaging more deeply with the creative process, contributing to projects from concept to completion, and continuing to learn every aspect of the trade.

There is something incredibly rewarding about working with stained glass. Each piece tells a story, not only through its design but through the care and skill that goes into its creation. No two projects are ever quite the same, and that constant variety brings both challenge and inspiration.

This transition has allowed me to reconnect with a craft that has been part of my life for so long—this time, not as a secondary pursuit, but as my primary focus. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to change direction, especially when it leads you closer to what you truly enjoy.

As I continue this journey, I look forward to sharing more about the work we do, the projects we take on, and the beauty of stained glass and lead light windows. What was once a long-standing interest has now become my full-time path—and I couldn’t be more excited about where it will lead.

Interview with Matthew - the Stained Glass and Lead Light Maker

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:01:09 GMT

So Matthew, tell us how and why you got involved in stained glass and leadlight design and construction?

Back at school, I always favoured the artistic and creative lessons - be it woodwork or metalwork and these were twinned with my love of art. I then went into self-employment from school - much of which involved general property maintenance and restoration. About 24 years ago, I realised I wanted something more artistic and creative in my work life which is when I came across a small stained glass studio that was exhibiting work in Wales – that was my ‘eureka’ moment! From that time on, I knew that this was the avenue that I wanted to go down and I was fortunate to already have a workshop set up which was soon modified to accommodate my new skill. I spent time with another stained glass studio in order to develop the skills needed and from that point on I've just been very fortunate to have never really had an occasion when there wasn't a project on the workbench.

Can you tell us what enjoyable projects you’ve worked on?

To be honest, all my projects are enjoyable but the ones which give me the most satisfaction is when an entranceway, which has lost its original stained glass features and has subsequently been glazed with a non-descript frosted glass, gets to have a makeover. This means I have to determine what that original stained glass feature might have looked like – drawing clues from adjacent properties or other research methods. The enjoyment I get on installing these beautiful stained glass panels in to the door, knowing that I’ve designed and made them, is really satisfying.

Work on leaded light windows is equally as fulfilling as these windows are always in old, historic Grade I, II or II* listed buildings where conservation is paramount. Often the glass that's contained in the lead light windows is of historical note – it might have distortions, air ‘seeds’ or other imperfections to the eye but these are intrinsic of very old, handcrafted, mouth blown glass. Sometimes the glass has been inscribed with a maker’s mark from hundreds of years ago and it’s so fascinating to be working on something so aged.

A possible "Maker's Mark" Dated to 1747

Are you able to create a stained glass window from an idea or sketch?

Yes I’m always happy to work with any suggestions or ideas that a client may have. Some designs may require alterations to ensure that all the shaped pieces of glass are able to be cut out and that the design doesn’t have potential weak points which could fracture. I can also advise on design ideas if the client is unsure what they want and need some direction.

What are your lead times?

This can vary depending on the work involved. A small in situ repair to a broken pane can usually be carried out within 1 – 2 weeks, whereas a more sizeable commission such as a series of entranceway panels or several lead light windows is likely to be around 8 – 10 weeks. I always inform the client when I accept the commission, what my current lead times are and keep them updated as the project progresses.

Can I visit you at your workshop/gallery?

Of course! I always encourage a client to visit - especially if they want to look through my glass stocks for particular colours and textures of glass. It’s a good opportunity to discuss design options and answer any further questions. My workshop is a working studio but has a comfortable area set aside for client visits. It’s always advisable to contact me to make a specific appointment to visit.

Glass and Lead Stock Selection

What are your prices?

Each and every commission whether new panels, new lead lights or repairs are different so prices will be on application. However, I always ensure that once a costing is provided, then the client can be confident that the price quoted is the final amount.

Do you install the panels or is this something I can do myself?

Yes, I can install both stained glass features as well as fitting lead light windows – this will often involve chasing out the existing glass so is not necessarily a task I would recommend a client tackling unless they’re confident. When freshly made, stained glass panels and lead light windows are surprisingly rigid and robust so I will talk the client through the process if they wish to do the installation themselves but I always stress that this is at their own risk. If the preferred option is for me to install then the price for fitting will be on application.

Do you carry out work on churches and cathedrals?

No is the short answer – churches generally have dedicated ‘ecclesiastical’ craftsmen who specialise in working on religious buildings. I centre my work around private homes and period properties.

Some tools of my trade (From Left to Right): Trusty lead knife, Rooster Fid, Diamond Glass cutter, Grozling pliers, horse shoe nails and hammer for holding the glass and lead secure during construction.

I have a lead light window on a metal casement installed within a wooden frame badly in need of repair to all the components – do you get involved in the woodwork and metalwork needed?

If a metal casement window is missing a handle or it’s become detached, I have the facility to be able to remedy this. Woodwork repairs to sills and mullions are also something that I can factor in depending on the level of deterioration. If more extensive rebuilding work of the wooden frame is needed, then I can call on the expertise of a number of local conservation joiners.

Thank you Matthew for this interview, where can we find more information about your many projects?

You're welcome, please head to my Gallery page at www.leadlightgallery.co.uk/gallery.

Repairing a Stained Glass or Lead Light Panel

leadlightgallery@yahoo.co.uk (Matthew Waters) — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 21:16:16 GMT

“I was on my ride-on mower and went over a golf ball which then flew into my lead light door – shattering the glass and distorting the lead.”

“Someone attempted (and failed) to break in through my stained glass front door and it’s now damaged”

“My dog has jumped up at the lead light door and its claws have distorted the lead and the panel is now bowing”

“My teenage son left the house in a mood – slamming the front door behind him and breaking a number of panes of glass in the process”

These are just some of the scenarios that clients have approached me about over the 23+ years I have worked as a stained glass artist and lead light maker/restorer.

My first words to the clients are always of reassurance that what is now broken can be fixed. The techniques I have developed and mastered enable me to effect a repair that is very often imperceptible – even to the trained eye. I’m not going to give my trade secrets away in this blog, but suffice to say that there is a way of extracting the broken glass using a method that doesn’t distort the lead came. This technique, along with the ingredients of the lead cement that is sandwiched between the glass and lead will remain a piece of information passed from one craftsmen to the next generation!

Sometimes what seems like a disaster to a client seeing their much prized original feature in a state of disrepair, calls for urgent attention because the cold and rain are now causing an issue. On other occasions, the damage was done many years ago and the client has simply not seen a way to resolve it – having not found anyone who specialises in this type of repair. Sometimes they have called on the assistance of local glaziers, who with a sharp intake of breath, have told them that “it’s not our area of expertise.”

The process

I’ll first ask a client to email me photos of the damaged panel – this sets up a correspondence between us and enables me to come up with a speedy solution. Many of the repairs I carry out can be done ‘in situ’ and within one visit which can be incredibly convenient to the client. My preferred approach is to provide a costing that is all inclusive and allows the customer to be confident of the final total.

If a panel has suffered more serious damage and cannot be repaired in place, I will remove it to bring back to my workshop so that it can be worked on more intensely before returning to refit it once restored. I always leave the client’s property with security boarding in place during the panel’s absence.

Wobbly door panels

The other scenario I’m often presented with is where a door panel has lost its rigidity. This is generally the result of often a century’s worth of opening and closing, banging and slamming! If the door panels are a pair and are long and slender, invariably the damage is concentrated on the locking edge rather than the hinged edge of the door; this is because this part of the door experiences the full force and intensity of opening and closing.

If the door has a large single panel, then it is often secured internally to a horizontal saddle bar – a rigid steel bar designed to reinforce. The panel is attached to this bar with small copper ties, which over time, become fatigued and snap. This issue, combined with the movement in the door panel over time, makes little fractures appear along the lead came adjacent to the solder joints and the panel will often develop a bowed or ‘bellied’ appearance. In this scenario, the ultimate approach which will provide the panel with 100+ years of further enjoyment, is to rebuild it using the original glass – some of which may no longer be in production and may be of real character. If there are losses of a particular antique, textured glass, I will often have conserved and preserved stock of this glass from redundant panels that can be transplanted into the new panel.

A less invasive and more economical approach is to resolder the fractured intersections of lead and at the same time, reattach new copper ties to secure the panel to the saddle bar. Because molten solder obeys the laws of gravity, the door is taken off its hinges and worked on using a trestle bench at the property. This process instantaneously provides the panel with more strength, regaining its original rigidity and can extend its lifespan by a number of years.

In sharing my experience and knowledge with you in this blog, my endeavour is to reassure you that the heartbreak the damage may have caused can be melted away once my skills have been employed.

Above is a picture of a badly damaged lead light panel before restoration and below shows the restored panel

Stained Glass – its Colourful History

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 12:03:16 GMT

Stained glass has a history which goes back thousands of years and stained glass windows in Britain can be dated back to the 7th century. Glass as a material, appears to have first been used in windows by the Romans and later, the Anglo Saxons developed the Medieval art form where coloured glass and lead were combined to create decorative windows in churches and cathedrals.

Little has changed in the construction of both stained glass and leaded light windows. However, the means to score and cut glass which is now achieved with a diamond glass cutter would have originally been carried out by tracing the pattern or shape of the glass with a fine line of liquid which the glassworker would then have followed over with a hot iron – the aim being that the glass would crack in the desired shape. A ‘Grosling’ tool was then used chip the glass into shape. Despite the primitive nature of these type of tools, stained glass windows of extraordinary size were created and have survived to this day.

What was the purpose of these elaborate and highly decorative windows? Was it solely to give an awe-inspiring atmosphere for worshippers within a church or cathedral? The content of many of these stained glass windows tell a story to the onlooker, who in medieval times, was likely unable to read and thus the windows came to be known as ‘biblia pauperum’ or ‘bible of the poor’ and thus these pictorial windows familiarised the congregations with bible stories and characters.

Stained glass, as a craft and an art, suffered a serious decline during the 14 ^th century when the Black Death swept through Europe. The knowledge of stained glass making which would have been traditionally passed from father to son, was often severed by the death of one or both of them and so the art of stained glass making suffered a huge decline.

The 19 ^th century Gothic revival saw many architects and artists delve again into the ancient craft of stained glass making and the old skills were gradually rediscovered. Stained glass, as an industry, enjoyed an outstanding resurgence.

Today, stained glass is no longer limited to religious buildings but rather, can be enjoyed by people in their own homes. Front doors, entrance ways and windows can all now be embellished using a time honoured tradition which helps to keep these old skills alive.

Lead light windows

In past centuries, glass was a highly expensive material which only the rich could afford. As a result of this, along with the inability to produce large panes of glass, the resultant lead light style of window developed. This enabled small panes of glass to be conjoined into larger panels with the use of lead came as the medium for piecing them together.

Traditional leaded light windows are found in much older homes – especially Grade I and II listed buildings and require a specialised conservation approach to their maintenance, care and repair.

Of note is the shape and layout of the matrix in these lead light panels which can be diamond, rectangular, square or a number of other ornate configurations. The diamond shape of pane gave greater stability and rigidity than the square panes and it was also a more efficient shape to cut from a piece of Crown glass resulting in less waste of this costly material.

Stained Glass Trends in Contemporary Home Design

simon@mydigitalhero.co.uk (Simon Edward) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 11:44:50 GMT

Stained glass, a traditional art form with a rich history, is making a striking comeback in contemporary home design. Today's homeowners are finding innovative ways to incorporate this timeless craft into modern aesthetics, proving that stained glass is as versatile as it is beautiful.

Blending Tradition with Modernity

In contemporary design, stained glass is no longer confined to classic patterns and religious motifs. Instead, it's being reimagined in ways that respect its heritage while embracing modern trends.

Minimalist Designs

One of the most popular trends in modern stained glass is the move towards minimalist designs. Simple, clean lines and geometric shapes are being used to create pieces that complement the sleek aesthetics of contemporary homes.

Abstract and Asymmetrical Patterns

Abstract and asymmetrical patterns are also gaining popularity. These designs often feature bold, vibrant colours and unconventional shapes, making each piece a unique work of art.

The Role of Stained Glass in Modern Architecture

In contemporary architecture, stained glass is being used to enhance both the interior and exterior of homes.

Natural Light and Stained Glass

Modern architecture emphasises natural light, and stained glass can play a significant role in this. Coloured glass can transform sunlight into an integral part of the home’s decor, creating dynamic patterns that change with the time of day.

Stained Glass as a Focal Point

In modern homes, a stained glass window or door can serve as a stunning focal point, drawing the eye and adding a touch of elegance to the simplicity of modern design.

Innovative Applications in Home Decor

Beyond windows and doors, stained glass is finding its way into other aspects of home decor in innovative ways.

Room Dividers

Stained glass room dividers are a stylish and functional trend. They provide privacy while allowing light to flow through, creating a sense of openness.

Lighting Fixtures

Contemporary lighting fixtures with stained glass are another way to incorporate this art form into modern homes. These fixtures can add a splash of colour and artistry to any room.

The Lead Light Gallery's Contemporary Approach

At the Lead Light Gallery, we're at the forefront of these contemporary trends. Our artists combine traditional techniques with modern designs to create stained glass that is both timeless and trendy.

Custom Designs for Modern Homes

We specialise in custom designs, working closely with homeowners to create stained glass pieces that reflect their personal style and the architectural character of their homes.

Embracing New Trends

Our gallery is constantly exploring new ideas and trends in stained glass, ensuring that our clients have access to the latest in contemporary design.

Conclusion

Stained glass is an art form that continues to evolve, seamlessly fitting into the ever-changing landscape of home design. At the Lead Light Gallery, we're passionate about bringing the beauty of contemporary stained glass into your home. Whether you're looking for a bold statement piece or a subtle addition to your decor, our gallery is here to turn your vision into reality.

Colour Psychology in Stained Glass Design

simon@mydigitalhero.co.uk (Simon Edward) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 11:34:50 GMT

Stained glass is not just a visual delight; it's a kaleidoscope of colours that can influence emotions and atmospheres in any space. Understanding the psychology behind these colours can transform the way we incorporate stained glass in our homes.

The Impact of Colour on Mood and Emotion

Colours have a profound effect on our mood and emotions. This is not just a subjective experience; numerous studies in colour psychology have shown that different hues can evoke different feelings and reactions. When these colours are cast in light through stained glass, their impact is even more pronounced.

Red: Warmth and Energy

Red, a colour often associated with warmth, passion, and energy, can create a sense of excitement and vibrancy in a room. In stained glass, red can be used to energize a space, making it ideal for living areas or creative spaces.

Blue: Calm and Serenity

Blue, the colour of the sky and sea, is revered for its calming and soothing properties. Blue stained glass can create a peaceful and tranquil environment, perfect for bedrooms or areas designated for relaxation.

Green: Harmony and Balance

Green, the colour of nature, is soothing and rejuvenating. It symbolizes growth, harmony, and balance. Green stained glass is excellent for spaces where you want to create a sense of tranquility and connection to nature.

Yellow: Cheerfulness and Optimism

Yellow, the brightest colour to the human eye, represents cheerfulness, optimism, and playfulness. Yellow stained glass can infuse a room with a sense of sunshine and joy, ideal for kitchens or dining areas.

Using Colour to Transform Spaces

Stained glass is a unique way to incorporate colour into your home. Unlike painted walls or decor items, the colours in stained glass change and dance with the light throughout the day, creating a living palette in your home.

Enhancing Small Spaces

In smaller or darker rooms, stained glass can add depth and interest. Lighter colours like soft blues, greens, or lavenders can make a space feel larger and more open.

Creating Focal Points

A stained glass window or panel in a bold, vibrant colour can become a stunning focal point in any room. It draws the eye and adds a touch of artistic elegance.

The Lead Light Gallery Approach

At the Lead Light Gallery, we understand the power of colour. Our artisans expertly craft stained glass pieces that not only beautify your space but also enhance your living experience through the thoughtful use of colour.

Tailoring to Your Preferences

Whether you prefer the vibrant energy of reds and oranges or the soothing serenity of blues and greens, we can create a custom design that resonates with your personal style and the psychological needs of your space.

Expert Colour Consultation

Our team offers expert consultation to help you choose the right colours for your stained glass, ensuring that each piece is not just a decorative item, but a contribution to the overall ambiance of your home.

Conclusion

Stained glass is more than a decorative element; it's a medium through which colour can be used to influence mood and atmosphere. The Lead Light Gallery is dedicated to harnessing the power of colour psychology in our stained glass designs, creating pieces that are not only visually stunning but also emotionally resonant. Let us help you bring the magic of colour into your home.