This is where I (Timeless Tim, PR Hound Extraordinaire - CV still being fabricated) post notice of events and exhibitions, preview of new products, scoops and gossip, some of it even fairly close to the truth. We do try to update everything on a (very) regularish basis but sometimes getting coherent info from Will is more of struggle then it should be....Anyways, latest stories will of course appear at the top so scroll on down and you'll find out what's been going on at SGHQ over previous weeks.
In addition, you could check out our Facebook page, Shakspeare Glass, and become a fan or email me Tim and get yourself on our exclusive "A dead artist is a valued artist" mailing list  Timeless & Billy |
Somerton Show Will is taking part in the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen’s Summer Exhibition. The Exhibition, titled “Regeneration”, is now showing at the Courthouse Gallery in Somerton. The Guild has used a lovely picture of a Shakspeare Glass tableau as its main publicity feature, putting it on posters and postcards advertising the exhibition. Regeneration runs until August 28th and you can find out more at www.somersetguild.co.uk  |
OWZAT?! So it’s finished, mounted and looking quite brilliant. If you scroll down the page you’ll find a couple of articles about the making of the “Cricket Ball” for Somerset County Cricket Club. Well it’s now in place, at the top of the staircase leading up to the Long Room in the Club’s beautifully-refurbished pavilion. It looks quite stunning and is just what the Club were looking for in their quest to represent their local craft making community in the refurbishment project. The photos here show Will and Somerset CCC Chief Executive Richard Gould admiring the piece. There are more photos posted on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com, search for Shakspeare Glass.. 
Will and Richard Gould, MD of SCCC |
Dew Drops are falling on my Head (and crying's not for me) Will's been working flat out (yes, really) on a special commission for German sculptor Wolfgang Buttress. Herr Buttress specialises in large-scale installations in public spaces. The one Shakspeare Glass have been asked to contribute to will be placed in an open area of Minehead Hospital in Somerset. Our role is to supply a large number of clear "dew drops" which will be fitted to steel poles. So far about 1500 (!) have left our Taunton studio with more to follow; the total order being in the region of 3000. The photo shows Will holding some of the dew drops as the first consignment of glass is shipped out. We'll keep you in touch as work progresses. To find out more on the work of Wolfgang Buttress have a look at www.wolfgangbuttress.com.  Will handing over the first consignent to Dave Banton |
Will's a Scilly Billyblower One of our longest-running and most active stockists is Tresco Gallery on the Scilly Isles. The Gallery stocks a wide range of Shakspeare Glass including Nougats, Tableaux, the new Seismic range, paperweights and a good selection of baubles. The Gallery has now taken things a stage further by commisioning its own, exclusive range of Shakspeare Glass. In one-off colours based on the fabulous scenery of Tresco itself, the Tresco Collection is made up of a tumbler, goblet, vase and of course baubles. Very good they are too. Only available through the Gallery www.gallerytresco.co.uk.  |
Seismic 
The latest fruit of Will’s creative loins has hit the shelves. For some time Will’s been working on a new range and here it is, Seismic. Followers of his (and there are one or two) know that nature, colour and form are usually the inspiration behind what Will does and Seismic continues the trend. One of Will’s favourite spots is Kilve beach in Somerset where there are some amazing rock formations. You wouldn’t take a bucket and spade but the layers of strata are something to see and are clearly reflected in this latest work. |
A Fine Cast We’ve already mentioned on this page Will’s special commission for Somerset County Cricket Club. Well, the casts have been made and the first glass of this mammoth piece poured. Once finished, the piece will be mounted on the wall of the Long Room in the Cricket Club’s refurbished pavilion at the Taunton County Ground. Here’s a couple of images of the glass being poured and we’ll have news of the piece itself once it’s presented to the Cricket Club..  
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End of Glassblowing as we know it..................... Somehow finding time to drag himself away from the furnace, Will and partner in crime Rick "the tractor elf" Thornton have just finished bottling this year’s cider production. They reckon they’ve produced around 40 gallons of the cloudy nectar which, he assures me, “Isn’t bad at all”. Even as I speak I imagine dentists in the Taunton area are laying in extra supplies of enamel. And if Will should proffer a bottle of dodgy-looking liquid in your direction, proceed with caution.. 
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Old Friends An old friend of Will's, Sheikha Hissah from Kuwait, has just placed an order for 100 Shakspeare Glass paperweights for a, how shall we put it, landmark birthday celebration. She first met Mr Shakspeare when he was on a visit to Kuwait sponsored by the British Council. Will's mission was to build a furnace in a school yard and then give glassblowing demonstrations alongside Ricardo Lawyer, a glassblower from Australia and ex NBC basketball player to boot!During his time in Kuwait Will met (and was tolerated by!) many members of the upper-echelon of Kuwaiti society and was guest at a number of lavish events. One of Will's most amusing anecdotes is about the budgies flying around the enormous dining room - ask him when you see him…..10 years ago, for a previous "landmark" birthday of Sheikha Hissah, Will supplied specially-designed ink bottles for her to give away as gifts. The occasion actually falls in July so we'll have previews here of the paperweights as Will gets on with them.  |
Where the Bentley came from One of Will's "friends" whilst relaxing round the jacuzzi at Chateau Shakspeare, nibbling on a dainty cucumber sandwich and sipping an overdry martini whilst trying to ignore the pink Bentley abandoned on the croquet lawn (Lady Penelope was always a heroine of his) had the temerity to ask him, "who actually buys your stuff?" Now as Will's caviared up plump PR hound, with Mont Blanc poised, it behoved me to uncover the truth. So I made gentle enquiries among the SG cognescenti and click here for the first results 
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Exhibition News On the Edge – Ireland
Will’s work has been doing the rounds in Ireland as part of On the Edge, a touring exhibition “consisting of pieces by contemporary glass artists working in Ireland and South West England. It includes examples by artists already well established and highly regarded internationally, as well as emerging artists whose work reflects a commitment to self-expression and integrity. Each piece is a personal choice by the artist showing what most typifies their work”. The exhibition has now reached its final stopping-off point, the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin. There has been a huge amount of interest in the show and it is estimated that around 50,000 people will pass through the doors by the time it closes on April 25! Shakspeare Glass have contributed one of Will's spectacular wall pieces to the exhibition, (like below) We hope you can get along if you’re within reach of Dublin. You can find more info about On the Edge at http://www.botanicgardens.ie/news/events.htm 
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Latest Commissions The good folk at Somerset County Cricket Club have chosen to adorn one of their new buildings in Taunton with a special commission from Shakspeare Glass. The large round tableau, designed to represent a cricket ball, will take pride of place as part of the redevelopment of the Taunton site and will be the template for a series of smaller pieces which will be used by the County as awards and gifts. The commission, made by Richard Gould, Chief Exec of SCCC, continues the relationship between the Club and Shakspeare Glass which is literally round the corner from the cricket ground. Last year two players who were leaving after giving exceptional service to the County were presented with vases made by Will. Justin Langer and Andrew Caddick loved the vases they were presented with at the Club’s annual dinner and felt they were a perfect memento of their time in Somerset. 
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Thanks to all Wow, what a day. Eager bargain hunters were queueing outside the door for our Open Day even before opening time. Once the doors were thrown back the shop bore a reasonable resemblance to the Tokyo subway! Many, many thanks to everyone who came along, it was great to see so many people and have a chance to catch up with everyone over a glass of mulled wine. Have a look at our Facebook page for a full set of pictures of the day. 
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In the Spotlight Will has just been featured in a nice big piece in the Saturday Telegraph. Recalling Telegraph writer Jane Alexander’s visit to Shakspeare Glass where she blew a glass for her favourite tipple, G&T, the article is highly complementary about Will (well everyone can be wrong from time to time) and shows how impressed Jane was with the glass Will makes. Another great piece of media coverage for Mr Shakspeare. See the article on our Facebook page. Anyway, please have a good look round our website. We’re sure you’ll like what you see. If you can’t get to our Taunton studio you can order through this website with complete confidence. Our FAQ page gives details of our “Can’t Lose” returns policy so there’s no reason at all why you too can’t have a piece of Shakspeare Glass adorning your home.
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In the Spotlight Again If you’ve just arrived here from having watched Will on TV, he didn’t do too badly for a simple glassblower did he? Thanks to Kirstie and C4 for giving enough time for everyone to be able to see the skill that goes into Will’s work. We hope you enjoyed seeing him in action and want to find out more. Although you’re probably drawn to the baubles do check out all the other stuff too. If you’re looking for a gift there are lovely pieces at a range of prices or this might just be the time for a treat and to put some Shakspeare into your home! If you are interested in the teaching sessions, check out the teaching page or give us a ring.
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Don’t Step on the Cracks  Somerset Square, Taunton’s new open space is due to be officially opened on 14 December. Will’s specially commissioned tiles, all 360 of them, are now in place, having been carefully sandblasted back at the Shakspeare Glass workshop, just around the corner from the Square, in order to reduce their slipperyness. Intended to become a focal point and meeting place for the community, there will be special events and performance arts taking place, as well as installations and sculptures for people to enjoy while chilling out by the river. As long as they keep off those lovely pieces of glass…. |
The Nicest Man on TV  TNMoTV, as Will was dubbed by a national newspaper, has been up to his media tricks again. After his starring role in Kirstie's Home Made Home, shown by Channel 4 last May, Will has just been filmed again for a Christmas Special of the show. Kirstie blew three fantastic baubles and these are set to feature large in the programme which is schedules to air at the beginning of December (date tbc). Read Will's account of the day's filming on Facebook. |
The SG Retro Show   We're really excited about this one! Over a cider recently we started getting all misty eyed about all the people who make up the "Shakspeare Glass Community"; all those discerning folk who, over a number of years now, have bought Shakspeare Glass pieces, who have visited us in Taunton or come and said hello at exhibitions and shows. We then got to speculating about where all those thousands of glass artifacts have ended up. As a good excuse to get all those SG punters together and as a rather special way to mark Will's 50th birthday we thought we'd try to hold a Shakspeare Glass Retro Show. This will bring together as many past works as possible so that we can all see what Will has come up with over the years and how his designs have progressed as he has built up his business. To get the ball rolling we'd ask you to send us an e mail, with photo attached if poss, giving us a few details of the glass you proudly own, where you're located and an idea of when you aquired it. In return we'll keep you posted on the info we collect. We'll obviously invite you to the show if it does happen - two nights accommodation in the shed at the bottom of the garden, all expenses paid. To whet your appetite we've popped up a picture of Will in his formative years and one of his earliest pieces, a green freeblown that Will reliably informs me was snapped up by a canny investor for a bargain price............... |
Get Down Shep
More rubbing shoulders with celebrity. Proving that she has impeccable taste, erstwhile Blue Peter presenter Valerie Singleton was a recent purchaser of fine glassware at Shakspeare Glass . Overcome by Ms Singleton’s visit and awestruck by meeting a long-time object of admiration, Will was heard to say “Um, erm, gosh. Blimey”.
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