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Dr Shelley Doolan
Dr Shelley Doolan’s research has at its core her own glass-making practice. Over-arching interests include the interaction of glass and light and the way in which form and finish delineate space and mediate our experience.
Shelley’s PhD research focused on the role of ‘technology’ within craft practice. The research interest lies in developing an approach that makes appropriate and sensitive use of ‘technology’ to expand rather than displace existing skills.
Evolving research outcomes were investigated through practice and collaborative case studies, supported by an experimental approach.
The work explores the potential for CAD and CAM tools and ways in which the skills associated with their use may become embedded within the craft practitioner’s repertoire. The research explores the limits of digital practice in terms of process parameters and material outcomes as well as raising and responding to questions concerning creativity and authenticity within digital practice.
Shelley’s research interests include the significance of the act of making and its impact on creativity and well-being for maker; and the impact upon the ‘consumer’ of the crafted artefact.
Shelley is currently developing the research beyond her own practice and the medium of glass, and finding routes to apply and adapt findings within educational and industrial contexts.
Tel: 01792 481194
E-mail: shelley.doolan@uwtsd.ac.uk
Full academic profile
Research repository
Selected exhibitions
- Guest Maker, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff, 1 July - 28 August 2016
- ‘Focus on Glass’, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff, 18 July – 6 September 2015
- ‘Form’, an exhibition of contemporary cast glass, London Glassblowing Gallery, Bermondsey Street, 4 October – 2 November 2013
- British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, 23 August - 15 September 2012
- European Glass in Context Exhibition, Bornholm Art Museum, 15 September to 18 November 2012. (One of two glass makers selected to represent UK)
- 'Melt' London Glassblowing Gallery, 62-66 Bermondsey Street, London SE1, 5 to 29 October 2011
- 'A.I.R.' at The Lightbox, Woking, Surrey, 23 February to 1 May 2011
- ‘A.I.R.’, Crafts Study Centre, Farnham, Surrey, 12 – 23 October 2010
- ‘Essence’ (an exhibition of Selected Artists from British Glass Biennale 2010, as part of the London Design Festival), London Glassblowing Gallery, Bermondsey Street, 22 September – 20 October 2010
- 'Lab Craft: Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft', A Crafts Council touring exhibition, opening at Tent London, Old Truman Brewery, London E1 6QL, 23 - 26 September 2010, continuing throughout 2011. http://www.labcraft.org.uk/makers
- British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, 26 August - 11 September 2010 – (awarded 'Worshipful Company of Glass Seller's Award')
- 'Remarkable Glass', Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery, London 18 June - 17 July 2010
- Leon Salet Arte-Moda, Maastricht, Holland, 21 May - 31 July 2010
- Bullseye 'e-merge 2010', Portland, Oregon, USA, 23 March - 19 June 2010 – (awarded 'Popular Prize')
- 'A.I.R.' James Hockey Gallery, UCA Farnham, Surrey 15 - 21 May 2010
- ‘The Sculpture Garden’, Birtley House, Bramley, Surrey, 1 May - 31 May 2010
- British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, August 2008
Publications:
Conference proceedings:
- Doolan,S., Cutler, V & Johnson, O. 2014, The synthesis of waterjet cutting with ‘hot-glass’ for the creation of murrini, 22nd International Conference on Water Jetting, BHR Group, Cranfield
- Doolan,S., 2012, The development of strategies for working with three-dimensional glass forms using two-dimensional waterjet cutting, 21st International Conference on Water Jetting, BHR Group, Cranfield.
- Doolan, S., V. Cutler, 2010, Controlled-depth surface-abrasion for parquetry in glass, 20th International Conference on Water Jetting, BHR Group, Cranfield
Featured in:
Books:
- "New Technologies in Glass", Vanessa Cutler, A & C Black Ltd (Sept 2012) ISBN 9781408139547
- "Mould Making for Glass", Angela Thwaites, A & C Black Ltd (2011) ISBN 9781408114339
Exhibition catalogues:
- European Glass in Context, Bornholm Art Museum, Denmark (2012)
- "British Glass Biennale 2012" (2012) ISBN 9780954757342
- LabCraft – Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft, Craft Council Exhibition Catalogue (2010) http://www.labcraft.org.uk/makers
- Remarkable Glass, Contemporary Applied Arts, London ISBN 9780906420065
- "British Glass Biennale 2010" (2010) ISBN 9780954757335
- "British Glass Biennale 2008" (2008) ISBN 9780954757328
Professional journals:
- “International Festival of Glass” (Review British Glass Biennale) Craft Arts International #86 pp. 92-94 (2012) ISSN 1038-846X
- “From a glass band to flat-pack birdcages” (Review of British Glass Biennale) Crafts #237 pp.14-15 (2012) ISSN 9770306610036
- “International Festival of Glass” (Review of British Glass Biennale) Craft Arts International #80 pp. 87-89 (2010) ISSN 1038-846X
- “Remarkable Glass”; Craft Arts International #80 pp. 91-97 (2010) ISSN 1038-846X
Symposia:
Presented at:
- Society of Glass Technologists Annual Conference in 2015
- ‘Parallels and Connections’ an international ceramics and glass research conference, in 2011, Sunderland University
- 20th International Conference on Water Jetting in October 2010.
- Society of Glass Technologists annual conference in 2010
Knowledge Transfer - Commercial
Working on the EU-funded project, Institute for Sustainable Design at UWTSD, Shelley engaged in knowledge transfer activities, working with companies across a diverse range of industries and sectors to deliver workshop events, design and technical advice and longer-term collaborative research and development projects. The work resulted in a number of positive impact factors including ‘profit benefit’, ‘new jobs created’ and the adoption of new processes within organisations.
One example of a successful collaborative R&D project includes HOS Civils Ltd, specialist civil engineering formwork contractors. Working as Principal Investigator with the Director of HOS, Shelley established the parameters of the R&D project, agreed responsibilities, time-scale and objectives. Shelley managed all aspects of the project from its conception, planning, timely delivery, review and reporting. The successful outcomes and transfer of knowledge have prompted the company to commission Shelley in contract research and innovation activities to extend a range of the new product from the initial tests and prototypes. HOS Civils Ltd is in the process of establishing a new division to market and sell the range.
Awards:
- British Glass Biennale, 2010 –awarded 'Worshipful Company of Glass Seller's Award'
- Bullseye e-merge, Portland USA, 2010
Work in public collections
Work acquired for Glass Museum Alter Hof Herding, Germany
Arts Council of England Grants for the Arts Funding 2009
Centre for Applied Glass Arts Research (CAGAR)
Institute for Sustainable Design (ISD)
