Designer Kathleen Leadbetter is on a mission to make simple, beautiful glassware

Aileen Lee talks to Kathleen Leadbetter, designer and fused glass artist.

What’s your background?

My husband Keith and I set up Jerpoint Glass Studio, a handcrafted glassblowing studio in the heart of County Kilkenny in 1979.

Keith is a master glassblower, trained in the prestigious Orrefors Glass School in Sweden, and I am a self-taught designer and fused-glass artist.

Growing up in Kilkenny, I always enjoyed the arts in all its forms — performance and visual arts.

As a young child I won the Texaco Art Competition for a painting entitled Blackberries.

Although I never had the opportunity to pursue a formal education, artistic expression was always part of my life.

Having met and married Keith in my early 20s, we decided to ‘go for it’ and open our own glassblowing studio.

In hindsight, we were very young and naïve — with no real business plan or proper understanding of what we were embarking on.

Having said that, we were full of passion for the glass and we knew that we were making something really special.

Our mission was simple, to make beautiful and functional handmade glass tableware — a core value of our company to this day.

With a timely written endorsement from a prestigious design shop, Kilkenny Design Workshops, we secured financial backing and the rest is history, as they say.

Today Jerpoint is collected around the world. Our pieces include wineglasses, candleholders, bowls, vases, jugs and other gifts in a range of bespoke colours.

If you can’t make it to the studio, shop on line with 10% discount code: SA16LE. https://t.co/TXGNDqJpi9 pic.twitter.com/dFFzJQ5csa

— JerpointGlass (@JerpointGlass) February 15, 2016

What’s a typical work day like for you?

Jerpoint is quite a small company so my role is varied, from processing orders and helping customers in the studio shop to catching up on paperwork or taking part in exhibitions.

I really enjoy developing the distinctive colour combinations that Jerpoint Glass has become synonymous with, and working alongside the glassblowers to develop new shapes and on design projects.

Just last week we were experimenting with gold and silver leaf and its application in glass for an upcoming craft exhibition for Kilkenny Arts Festival.

Occasionally we get to do something really fun like hosting a ‘blow a glass bubble’ workshop where we give the public the chance to try their hand at glassblowing, or when we invite artists and craftspeople to exhibit at our gallery here at the studio.

Making wine glasses today - Here's @RoryLeadbetter1 starting to shape the cup part of the glass...#handmade #craft pic.twitter.com/tsemH3lvYA

— JerpointGlass (@JerpointGlass) November 18, 2015

We have glassblowing demonstrations during the week so the place is always busy with people coming and going.

Tell us about a recent or favourite design you have worked on?

Several years ago, I started experimenting with fused glass.

Using a technique called slumping, I create pictures and wall pieces. I make landscapes and abstract collages or quirky interpretations of animals and a range of mirrors.

It’s great to have a change and to work on my own pieces.

I’ve had the opportunity to work on some amazing installation pieces. Most recently, with interior designer Pauline Dowling we made some pieces for the Bon Secours Hospital in Galway.

As for the glassware range, I love our festival collection. The shapes are very simple, uncluttered but with a dramatic splash of multi-coloured spots.

The colourful, bespeckled collection is playful and contemporary, yet very clean. We love this type of aesthetic.

What’s your design style?

Jerpoint’s design style is very clear, simple, clean shapes that are both beautiful and functional.

It's #New! Tea-Light Holder from Jerpoint Glass https://t.co/W8s4eUTpaT pic.twitter.com/zkZzoAgt6t

— JerpointGlass (@JerpointGlass) February 18, 2016

What/who inspires your work?

Certainly our colour palette is very much inspired by the colours in nature, with the beautiful Kilkenny countryside as our backdrop.

It’s difficult not to be inspired by the changing landscape, the seasons coming and going, and the familiar shades and texture in the surrounding country.

Inspiration can be found almost anywhere; we’ll return from a trip with new ideas or just leafing through a book or a magazine.

This year we were inspired by the symbolism in the Irish tricolour flag to create our ‘Centenary’ collection and mark this special milestone year in our history.

What’s your favourite trend at the moment (if you have any)?

Trend watching is not something that we place a great amount of importance in.

Our most popular piece today has been our top-seller for more than 30 years — the small, straight wineglass; it’s a classic, timeless shape.

Of course we adapt and listen to what our customers want. I feel, especially with handcrafted pieces, they are created for longevity — quality pieces that will last a lifetime, so passing trends are less important.

Developing some new handcrafted pendant #lighting...what do you think? #glassmaking #glassart pic.twitter.com/Cc6iNCZywx

— JerpointGlass (@JerpointGlass) March 4, 2016

What’s your most treasured possession?

We have collected some wonderful paintings, the most recent addition from local artist Helen Comerford, and craft pieces including my 50-strong teapot collection which I love and they bring me joy on a daily basis, but the things I treasure are my family and friends, time in the garden, watching the seasons change year after year in the place where I grew up.

Beautiful planting in the sculpture garden @bloominthepark #bloominthepark16 - making us look good! pic.twitter.com/w9M7xGToqg

— JerpointGlass (@JerpointGlass) June 4, 2016

 Who would be your favourite designer, or style inspiration?

I really admire ceramic artist and designer Sonja Landweer, who came to Ireland in 1965 at the invitation of the newly formed Kilkenny Design Workshops.

She has become an important connection in Irish craft development over the years.

I love her simple, beautiful forms, an incredible woman whose retrospective exhibition at Visual in Carlow a few years ago, left me feeling overwhelmed and emotional. An amazing body of work

What would be a dream project/design for you to work on?

We have been so lucky to have collaborated with some amazing designers and artists over the year.

We worked with artists like Alice Maher and also Joy Gerrard who installed over 100 glass spheres in a ‘cloud’ installation for the Revenue regional building in Waterford.

We’ve teamed up with silversmith Peter Donovan on projects from the Eurovision Song Contest award, the year Celine Dion won, to the Longford Cathedral refurbishment project more recently.

It’s really interesting to work with such gifted artists and designers.

However, the real joy for us is creating Jerpoint’s range of glassware for everyday use, by hand, using traditional 2,000-year-old methods.

Have you any design tips for us?

A good design needn’t be complex.

See what's new at #JerpointGlass - Heart Paperweight: https://t.co/5OR4dJnh1Z pic.twitter.com/2F1UNWgQVD

— JerpointGlass (@JerpointGlass) February 24, 2016

Simple lines, good harmony of colour, and fit for purpose — whether you’re designing a vessel, a garment or a room plan, make sure it works for you and your purpose.

Yes, it must be aesthetically pleasing but it has to function.

For more information on Jerpoint Glass Studio, see their website.

You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook.