Bethan Gray

Celebrated homeware and furniture designer Gray spent 10 years as Habitat’s design director before founding her eponymous firm in 2008 (bethangray.com)

I came across Beth’s work on the website for the New Designers exhibition, which is close to my heart because I won a prize there myself when I graduated. I was drawn to her glass vessels because colour is very important to me, and I love her use of strong hues and bold combinations. I also adore the thickness and chunkiness of her pieces. Glass-blowing is done using very traditional techniques, but she has a contemporary take on the craft. I’m not a glass artist, but I have worked with glass blowers on a couple of projects, so I understand how difficult it is to get the kind of fluidity you can see in Beth’s work, as well as the sense of simplicity embodied in her vessels. Simplicity is actually very difficult to achieve.

‘I LOVE BETH’S USE OF STRONG HUES AND BOLD COMBINATIONS’