Alison Velvin
Glass Artist
I am a passionate glass artist producing high quality jewellery for individuals that like to express their own style. I can make a similar bead but none can be exactly the same.
The pieces can comprise 30 or more layers of glass and each bead takes anything from an hour (one earring) to four hours (large sculptural bead) using glass sourced from many countries. My jewellery reflects a long love affair with glass. Read my regular blog about my designs.
Where to Find Me
Shop online or find me at the following markets:
Renegade Handmade in Townsville, Yungaburra, Airlie Beach, and Bowen.
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Selected products at:
Drill Hall Studio, Renegade Shop, Reef HQ, (all Townsville),
Artspace Mackay (Mackay), Artistree (Yungaburra) and Tyto Gallery (Ingham).
Contact me via email or phone.​ Or use the contact form below.
My Journey to Lamp-Working
I was born in Chicago, USA and as a child travelled the world with my family. I spent the first 30 years of my life convinced that I was only good at maths and science, that I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body.
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I sort of stumbled into making lampworked glass beads by accident when my sister sent me a bracelet of handmade beads for my birthday.
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It was my grandmother who gave me my early love of glass and I inherited her vast collection of antique pieces.
I did my formal education at Canterbury University in New Zealand studying chemistry and zoology with the goal of having a career in Marine Biology. However, life got in the way of that dream, and instead I spent the next two decades sailing three times around the world.
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I also love colour, and one of my most profound experiences was sailing on my 80-year-old square rigged ship, “Tradewind” to Antarctica for several seasons.
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I was expecting a silent colourless continent but found a magical place teaming with wildlife and bursting with colour. There were icebergs of every imaginable colour in the spectrum.
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My then husband and I sailed her for 14 years carrying passengers to remote areas such as the Sub-Antarctic islands in the summer and into the more remote areas of the Pacific during winter.
Other highlights during this time were: sailing with the Australian Bi-Centennial fleet from London to Sydney in 1984; representing both Australia and New Zealand in the Tall Ships Christopher Columbus voyage and Parade of Sail from the Caribbean to New York and Boston in 1994; then the Tall Ships race from Boston to Liverpool.
The main reason for purchasing Tradewind was to offer eco-tourism sailing adventures to the Sub-Antarctic islands, which are the main breeding grounds for Antarctic birds and animals.
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Returning to land, I worked for many years in finance with lamp-working as a hobby. However, glass is incredibly addictive and it wasn’t long before I was working exclusively at my torch, taking my inspiration for the rainforest and Great Barrier Reef which are on the doorstep of my home in Townsville in Far North Queensland. I am guilty of totally loving my work.
During my years working with glass, I have been privileged to study on Murano and have done classes with Loran Stump and Corina Tettinger.
A variety of kind souls have also answered questions on forums like Wet Canvas and I thank them all. One of the nicest things about the worldwide lamp-work communities is the kindness and helpfulness I have experienced.
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I see myself as a dedicated romantic, expressing my love of life through my art, and one of my major pleasures is to make people smile.