Meet the Artists - Mike Caddy & Jenny Timms

This month, we have double the delight for you. We are thrilled to feature local artist duo, Mike Caddy & Jenny Timms. Jenny and Mike are Vitreus Art based in Towcester, South Northants. Together they have been creating artworks for more than 18 years. They make beautiful stained glass, fused glass and outdoor garden sculptures incorporating reclaimed timber, to sell, and to commission for clients as well as running their popular workshops.

HOW DID YOU BOTH BECOME ARTISTS?

Mike Caddy

Jenny – I have been creating art since I was a child in one form or another, inspired by my Grandfather who was a painter. I went to art school and have been working as an artist ever since. I am always a little humbled when someone buys a piece of my art. It means they will get as much enjoyment from owning it as I did creating it. And I can create more!

Mike – Making, selling, teaching art has provided me with a way to indulge my interests in form and light, and has made it possible to earn a living in a way I would never have anticipated when I was young. We became interested in stained glass on holiday in Cornwall. We then attended workshops to understand the techniques, and the possibilities of, contemporary examples of the ‘Tiffany’ method.

WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

Stained glass covers many art forms, from lampshades (think Tiffany), to stained glass windows (think the world’s most magnificent religious buildings) and decorative art for the home. Fused glass is a general term, covering vessels, wall art, 3d or sculptural art and more. Our enthusiasm is chiefly for creating wall and 3d art with stained glass – incorporating modern styles and materials. Our pieces are often combined with, or built around, or set into beautiful reclaimed wood, and sometimes metal, for a distinctive way to look at stained glass in the home, and far removed from the ecclesiastical idiom.

Our practice is loosely structured – owning a gallery has to mix with being creative, along with teaching our busy workshops. We are always thinking of new ideas and getting inspiration from the natural work and looking back on things we have made in the past to see how those ideas can develop into new pieces.

Jenny - I enjoy the creative process from the design point right through to the end result (when it goes to plan, that is!)

Mike - I am particularly stimulated by experimental work – testing new ideas, and materials. Not all of these experiments work…….

Like many artists, we both feel that the gestation can be frustrating but that’s always offset when a customer buys our work, or is clearly in love with the commission we’ve made for them. 

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOUR ART?

Jenny - I draw inspiration from the stained glass work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, probably the single most innovative designer in glass in the 19th and early 20th century. We are both huge fans of Barbara Hepworth and freely admit the impact of Cornish glass artist Julia Mills – it was her work that got us started in glass years ago.

Mike - I am also keen on sculptors Constantin Brancusi and Cornish contemporary sculptor Tom Leaper.

As gallery owners we also work with many local and regional artists, from Northants and the neighbouring counties, and are often inspired by the works of the artists we exhibit.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR BUDDING ARTISTS?

We’ve received a great deal of advice over the years, much of it not useful!
However, we did take on board these maxims:

If you want to earn a living from art, learn how to earn a living first, get some business experience, and act like it’s your profession, not your dream. Even if it is your dream, it’s more likely to come true for those who take it seriously and have some business skills to help them find buyers for their art.

For those entering the world of art, we often say – work out how to make it pay, and be prepared to work in a regular job while you build up your art practice. Be alert to any way to earn your dues, and earn your wages – even if these ways are only tangential to making art.

Create something every day if at all possible; learn the trade and seek constructive criticism. And keep notebooks of sketches, ideas, doodles, and contacts to network with.

Don’t miss this fascinating short video - watch to find out more about Mike & Jenny’s creative process and see more examples of their beautiful glass work.

Contact Mike & Jenny:

Address: Vitreus Art Studio & Gallery – 34-36 Bell Plantation, Watling Street, Towcester, Northants NN12 6GX

Email: hello@vitreus-art.co.uk

Website: www.vitreus-art.co.uk

#WHY I LOVE ART…

I am always a little humbled when someone buys a piece of art. It means they will get as much enjoyment from owning it as I did creating it. And I can create more!

– Jenny Timms