Born in Plymouth in 1978, Richard Glass studied Fine Art at Southampton Institute, where his early experiments explored light and transparency through unconventional casting materials such as salt, fat, and sugar. This fascination soon evolved into a lasting interest in glass; an especially fitting medium given his name. Drawn to the discipline of making, Richard saw craftsmanship as a way to ground and validate his work as an artist.

He trained in traditional glassmaking techniques with Dartington Crystal, complementing this practical foundation with academic studies at Plymouth College of Art, where he earned an HND in Ceramics and Glass, followed by a BA in Applied Art in 2001. He went on to complete a Masters degree at the University of Sunderland in 2003.

That same year, Richard established his own studio, Fluid Glass, and in 2005 relocated to Teign Valley Glass in Bovey Tracey, Devon. There, he continues to develop a distinctive line of high-quality sculptural glass, combining handblown, cut, and coldworked techniques.

Richard describes his aesthetic as “a little retro but with a contemporary twist.” His goal is refinement through experience: “I hope the last pieces of glass I ever make will be close to my very first efforts; only by then, they will be informed by a lifetime’s worth of learning.”