.gif)
Charles Bray (glass artist)
Encyclopedia
Charles Bray is a British painter and glass sculptor. He was born in Salford, Lancashire
, England.
, in Salford, where his father worked as a lorry driver. A strong artistic influence came through his mother, who was musical and his maternal great-grandfather, a stonemason. He failed the scholarship exam for Grammar school
, but became top of his secondary school
, Halton Bank School, by the age of 13. He later attended Openshaw
Technical College http://otcmancat.co.uk/ and studied to belong to the Society of Designer Craftsmen http://www.societyofdesignercraftsmen.org.uk/. He began employment with a firm of church furnishers.
When he turned 18, Charles Bray joined the Royal Navy
, at the start of World War II
, and served on and . After the end of the war, he attended Freckleton Teacher training college
, under the Emergency Teacher Training Scheme http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=5608&CATLN=3&FullDetails=True, set up after the implementation of the Education Act 1944
.
to study painting and sculpture. Upon returning to teach at Manchester, Charles Bray then moved to Cumberland
(Cumbria
) in 1955, to teach art at Eden School http://www.school-index.co.uk/urn/128602.php, Carlisle
. He married Margaret Ingram, a textile artist (who died in 1995). In 1962, Charles Bray worked at Sunderland Teacher Training College, and then became Head of Ceramic Art
at Sunderland College of Art. Charles Bray set up courses on ceramic glazes for teachers, and established a glass degree course at SCA http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/course/9/ba_hons_glass_and_ceramics.php. In 1976, he attended the Hot Glass Conference at the Royal College of Art
which proved a major watershed in the development of Studio Glass in England. Subsequently, he was instrumental in setting up British Artists in Glass (now the Contemporary Glass Society http://www.cgs.org.uk/MEMBERSmoduleASP/showmemberdetails.asp?memberno=188) to promote and support the work of glass artists in the UK.
and Henry Moore
. This is evident in his prolific paintings and drawings. Later influences from the Cumbria landscape, and rock strata, were instrumental in a change of artistic direction. His glass work demonstrates this influence. Charles Bray’s glass work can be classed in two groups. The first consists of blown bowls, etched with shapes reflecting landscape influences. Secondly, nature plays a strong influence in his glass sculpture, much of which is experimental and varied.
of the Society of Glass Technology
https://secure.societyofglasstechnology.org.uk/cgi-bin/secure/mi.cgi?pplace=15&sessionid=5106&page=Books, a Fellow of the University of Sunderland
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=104999§ioncode=26 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
. He is the author of important glass art and glass technology reference books including A Dictionary of Glass, Ceramics & Glass – A Basic Technology and Glass Blowing http://www.bizcraft.co.uk/cbglass/publications.aspx. The British Library Sound Archive
, London, holds an extensive and informative recorded interview with Charles Bray, conducted by Hawksmoor Hughes http://cadensa.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/DO2nmnYcpF/170400048/9, on 23 October 2007.
, and ex-king Constantine II of Greece
. His work is in a number of public collections some of which are:
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England.
Early years
He was brought up, an only child, in a two-up-two-down terraced houseTerraced house
In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls...
, in Salford, where his father worked as a lorry driver. A strong artistic influence came through his mother, who was musical and his maternal great-grandfather, a stonemason. He failed the scholarship exam for Grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, but became top of his secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, Halton Bank School, by the age of 13. He later attended Openshaw
Openshaw
Openshaw is a ward of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, North West England. It lies about two miles east of Manchester city centre. Historically a part of Lancashire, Openshaw was incorporated into the city of Manchester in 1890. Its name derives from the Old English Opinschawe, which...
Technical College http://otcmancat.co.uk/ and studied to belong to the Society of Designer Craftsmen http://www.societyofdesignercraftsmen.org.uk/. He began employment with a firm of church furnishers.
When he turned 18, Charles Bray joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, at the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and served on and . After the end of the war, he attended Freckleton Teacher training college
Teacher training college
A teacher training college is a college of higher education that specialises in training students to be teachers.Many universities offer similar facilities, a number of which acquired their provision by taking over a teacher training college or by a teacher training college evolving into a...
, under the Emergency Teacher Training Scheme http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=5608&CATLN=3&FullDetails=True, set up after the implementation of the Education Act 1944
Education Act 1944
The Education Act 1944 changed the education system for secondary schools in England and Wales. This Act, commonly named after the Conservative politician R.A...
.
Teaching
He taught for two years in Manchester, specialising in music, woodwork and metalwork and then entered Goldsmiths CollegeGoldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
to study painting and sculpture. Upon returning to teach at Manchester, Charles Bray then moved to Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
(Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
) in 1955, to teach art at Eden School http://www.school-index.co.uk/urn/128602.php, Carlisle
City of Carlisle
The City of Carlisle is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages...
. He married Margaret Ingram, a textile artist (who died in 1995). In 1962, Charles Bray worked at Sunderland Teacher Training College, and then became Head of Ceramic Art
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
at Sunderland College of Art. Charles Bray set up courses on ceramic glazes for teachers, and established a glass degree course at SCA http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/course/9/ba_hons_glass_and_ceramics.php. In 1976, he attended the Hot Glass Conference at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
which proved a major watershed in the development of Studio Glass in England. Subsequently, he was instrumental in setting up British Artists in Glass (now the Contemporary Glass Society http://www.cgs.org.uk/MEMBERSmoduleASP/showmemberdetails.asp?memberno=188) to promote and support the work of glass artists in the UK.
Art career
Charles Bray has drawn influence from form and line observed from naval objects, and by the artists Ben NicholsonBen Nicholson
Benjamin Lauder "Ben" Nicholson, OM was a British painter of abstract compositions , landscape and still-life.-Background and Training:...
and Henry Moore
Henry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
. This is evident in his prolific paintings and drawings. Later influences from the Cumbria landscape, and rock strata, were instrumental in a change of artistic direction. His glass work demonstrates this influence. Charles Bray’s glass work can be classed in two groups. The first consists of blown bowls, etched with shapes reflecting landscape influences. Secondly, nature plays a strong influence in his glass sculpture, much of which is experimental and varied.
Honours and publications
Charles Bray is a FellowFellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Society of Glass Technology
Society of Glass Technology
The Society of Glass Technology is an organization for individuals and organizations with a professional interest in glass manufacture and usage...
https://secure.societyofglasstechnology.org.uk/cgi-bin/secure/mi.cgi?pplace=15&sessionid=5106&page=Books, a Fellow of the University of Sunderland
University of Sunderland
The University of Sunderland is located in Sunderland, north east England. The university has more than 17,500 students, including 7,000-plus international students from some 70 countries....
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=104999§ioncode=26 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
. He is the author of important glass art and glass technology reference books including A Dictionary of Glass, Ceramics & Glass – A Basic Technology and Glass Blowing http://www.bizcraft.co.uk/cbglass/publications.aspx. The British Library Sound Archive
British Library Sound Archive
The British Library Sound Archive in London, England is one of the largest collections of recorded sound in the world, including music, spoken word and ambient recordings....
, London, holds an extensive and informative recorded interview with Charles Bray, conducted by Hawksmoor Hughes http://cadensa.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/DO2nmnYcpF/170400048/9, on 23 October 2007.
Exhibitions and collections
Charles Bray has exhibited in Britain, Europe and the United States. Private collectors of his work include Margrethe II of DenmarkMargrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
, and ex-king Constantine II of Greece
Constantine II of Greece
|align=right|Constantine II was King of Greece from 1964 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1973, the sixth and last monarch of the Greek Royal Family....
. His work is in a number of public collections some of which are:
- Turner Museum of GlassTurner Museum of GlassThe Turner Museum of Glass is housed in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield. It is in the Hadfield Building with the entrance from Portobello Street...
, Sheffield. - Musee du Verre http://www.charleroi-museum.org/mdv/hp/hp.asp, Sars Poteries.
- Shipley Art GalleryShipley Art GalleryThe Shipley Art Gallery is an art gallery situated in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. It is at the south end of Prince Consort Road, near to Shipcote.-Origins:The Shipley Art Gallery first opened to the public in 1917...
, Gateshead. - Salford City Art Gallery http://www.salford.gov.uk/salfordmuseum, Salford.
- Crystalex, Novy Bor http://www.crystalex.cz/, Czechoslovakia.
- Corning Museum of GlassCorning Museum of GlassThe Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, New York, explores every facet of glass, including art, history, culture, science and technology, craft, and design....
, New York. - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumKelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumThe Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a museum and art gallery in Glasgow, Scotland. The building houses one of Europe's great civic art collections...
, Glasgow. - Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.
- Ulster MuseumUlster MuseumThe Ulster Museum, located in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, has around 8,000 square metres of public display space, featuring material from the collections of fine art and applied art, archaeology, ethnography, treasures from the Spanish Armada, local history, numismatics, industrial...
, Belfast.