Vanessa’s work is about pushing the parameters of water jet cutting technology. Over the past seven years she’s been investigating the creative uses of waterjet cutting for glass. This has led to the development of new work that is utilizing this cutting-edge technology in an imaginative and unique way.

Cutting properties, cutting shapes, lines and milling within sheets of glass that are only possible with such a machine are being explored. Accurate lines, holes and intricate shapes, which can be used in multiples, within single and several layers of glass are being produced. These qualities create work that draws the viewer into the work and the processes that have been applied. The approach is minimal allowing the cutting to maximize the qualities of the architectural glass application. The layering of cutting is enhanced by the manipulation of natural and artificial lights.

Vanessa trained in Architectural Stained Glass at Swansea Institute and earned a Masters Degree at the University of Wolverhampton, before setting set up a studio undertaking a variety of commissions ranging from church restoration to contemporary interiors.

In 2000 she moved to Sunderland to undertake research looking at creative uses of water jet cutting. Vanessa is now an architectural glass artist living and working in the North East and employed as an RCUK Research Fellow at the University of Sunderland. She completed her Ph.D. in February 2006. In addition to her work at the University, her studio undertakes commissions that utilize her experience and knowledge with the field of architectural glass.

“My enjoyment is in making glass look a lot more fragile than it is waterjet enables the materials to be manipulated in ways not achievable any other way.”