Eddy masters mirror making through QEST training

Eddy Bennett is a 2023 QEST D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Scholar and reverse glass sign maker based in West Sussex. QEST caught up with Eddy to find out how his training is going and what his plans are going forward.

Q. Tell us about your QEST training so far with master craftsman David Smith MBE. What have you learnt?

Eddy: I recently spent six days with Dave learning the endangered craft of ‘brilliant cutting’ and ‘silvering’ (pouring mirrors). It’s a very laborious method to make ornamental glass panels, where stone wheels are used engrave deep cuts in various shapes and forms.

The silvering process is a fascinating way of making mirrors the traditional way, where it almost seems like magic in front of your eyes! A reaction between several perfectly measured chemicals, including silver nitrate, which go from a clear liquid into a silver mirror within seconds.

It will take me several years to master the techniques but, my imagination is already running wild with all the possibilities I can incorporate into my practice.

Q. What have you enjoyed learning the most?

E: The best part was certainly learning the variations between the stone types and what cuts they can achieve. Edge cuts are the hardest by far, where the slightest wobble on the glass will ruin it! My favourite would have to be the ‘puntie’ cut, a perfectly formed convex circle that looks like a little bubble on the glass.

Q: How will you use your new skills going forward?

E: I will be applying these new techniques to my existing ornamental glass artworks, which are inspired by Victorian mirrors and glass signs. This will give my pieces more depth and texture to the already complex and ornate aesthetic. 

Q: Do you feel like you’ve grown in confidence as a maker?

E: Ever since I started my journey 10 years ago, I feel that I’ve been improving almost on a daily basis – it’s a great feeling to see how far you’ve come when looking back to where it all started (sometimes a little cringey looking my early work).

I do feel confident in my work, however I do think that I will never actually stop learning within this craft and I’m excited to see where it takes me in the many years to come.

Q: What’s next for you?

E: Ever since the Scholarship training, I have been building my studio set up ready for brilliant cutting and silvering. It’s a very long process to get there, however I’m now 80% complete and should be ready to go before the end of April! I have many projects lined up for the next 15 months, so I’m very excited to incorporate these techniques!

I will also be teaching my first ever workshop to multiple students this August, at the much-praised Pilchuck Glass School in the US. 

I have been asked for several years now by aspiring craftspeople whether I would consider teaching, and to be honest I never really felt that I was ready. When Pilchuck invited me, it was a pivotal point where after 10 years of being in the craft, I decided it was finally time to do it! I’m very excited (and slightly nervous!)

Q: What does your QEST Scholarship mean to you?

E: It’s something I’m very proud of. I feel very fortunate that QEST is supporting my practice and helping me to preserve and master these precious skills. Ultimately, I have been fast tracked to what could have taken me another five years to achieve.

Thank you again to everyone at QEST and D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust who has made this possible.