Architectural Stained Glass alumni visit to Swansea College of Art

Swansea College of Art recently had the pleasure of welcoming back a group of Architectural Stained Glass alumni from the class of 1985. Organised by former student, Simon Knight, the reunion brought together former students from across the UK and abroad to reconnect with each other, and with the place where their artistic journeys first took shape.

As part of the visit, the group enjoyed a tour of the glass processing facilities and studios which sparked joyful reminiscences of tutors, classmates, and projects from four decades ago. Alumni were struck by the transformation of the facilities, impressed by the range of new equipment and the innovation displayed in the current Design Crafts students’ glasswork.

At the heart of the event was a special exhibition drawn from the Swansea Stained Glass Archive, a digitised and growing collection of hundreds of student panels created at Swansea since the 1970s. For the alumni, the showcase provided an opportunity not only to revisit historic works but also to connect their own legacy with the students of today.

Reflecting on the event, reunion organiser, Simon Knight said:

“The realisation that it would soon be 40 years since we started the course at Swansea’s Architectural Stained Glass course was the catalyst for the reunion. The organisation fell to me as I already had an active database through my social media stained glass group.

“What I wasn’t prepared for was just how good it would be. We enjoyed some great presentations on the current course structure and scope at the school, updates on ex-student design and artwork archives, and a tour around the school’s extensive facilities.

“Within a few minutes of the presentation, it was obvious to all that the magic we experienced was still there in great abundance. The greatest pleasure of the day came with the understanding that all we had experienced then still exists now in such great form and awaits, ready to serve generations of artists and creatives anew.”

Martin Crampin, Research Fellow at University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies who leads the Swansea Stained Glass Archive project, added:

“An ongoing dialogue with former students remains so important as we continue to document and understand the importance of our collections at Swansea College of Art. Drawing on the memories of these former students of the time that they spent studying stained glass at Swansea forty years ago, we were able to date and attribute several items in the collection.”

Work on the Swansea Stained Glass Archive is ongoing, led by Marilyn Griffiths, Martin Crampin, and Christian Ryan. The growing catalogue can be explored online at swansea.stainedglass.wales.

The visit was both a celebration of shared memories and a reminder of the continuing impact of Swansea’s stained glass teaching on new generations of artists.

Further Information

Mared Anthony

Communications and PR Officer: Alumni Relations   
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email: mared.anthony@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: +447482256996