Sarah Downton

Sarah started making glass beads in 2002 and teaching beadmaking in 2006. She sells at bead and art fairs, is a City and Guilds qualified teacher and four times judge of the British Bead Awards.
She is a member of the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen (where she sells her work), Glass Beadmakers UK and the International Society of Glass Beadmakers.

Descrive your approach to teaching:
Beginners courses are well structured with demonstrations followed by student practice. Skills and techniques are gradually built up to facilitate student confidence, discovery and a basic understanding of glass.

What inspires your own work?
The coast, colour, light, movement, techniques and materials, all play a part in my inspiration.
The flow of hot glass and unpredictable reactions with other colours influences design evolution.