Unique glass plate stolen from art exhibition

Friday 02 June 2017

It may have been a spur of the moment decision - but the person who stole a highly distinctive and unique red glass plate from a local art exhibition has left themselves the problem of what to do with it.

The Police are appealing for information about the missing plate, which was apparently stolen from a display at Coopers & Co in Castle Quay.

It was created by local glass artist Julie Bolton and features a 'unique' black stripe design, using a fusing technique.

The technique consists in layering thin sheets of glass, sometimes coloured to create patterns, and to place them in a kiln - a type of oven that reaches temperatures up to 816° - until the different layers bond together. The piece then has to be cooled down following specific steps to avoid breakage.

Julie Bolton explained that the process is a complicated one that can take up to a week for each plate depending on the design. All of her pieces are ‘one-offs’ and have a different pattern and design. The artist explained that the uniqueness of her glass pieces will make it difficult for the ‘thieves’ to hide them. She told Express: “My work is only made by me no one else can use my designs so they are quite noticeable.”

Pictured: Julie Bolton in her workshop working on a "missing wax" piece.

Ms Bolton has been creating glass art for over 16 years after returning to school at the age of 50. She took a Foundation Course at Highlands College and then completed a degree in 3D Art and Design Glass and Printmaking at Wolverhampton University in 2001. She then moved in a workshop at Samares Manor where she installed her kiln.

She has had her work on display at Coopers & Co at Castle Quay since the opening, in 2012. The owner David Warr, explained he wanted the exhibition area to help artists: "In essence we’re interested in promoting local artists who bring a new or different angle and create a talking point. After all that’s a part of the essence of coffee shops isn’t it?" 

Pictured: The glass artist is also exhibiting some of her artwork at the Harbour Gallery. 

She realised two weeks ago that two of her pieces were missing from the exhibition and posted on social media to "shame" the thieves. She wrote that selling her pieces is her main source of income,  "...sickened her to think people would do this to a 'one man band' Artizan (sic)." It recently emerged that one of the plates had been sold, but the second plate is still unaccounted for and Ms Bolton contacted the Police to find it.

Although, it is not clear when the plate was stolen, she is hopeful that it will be found. She said: "Someone will see them, the Police said to me they may spot them in someone's house, all antique dealers and auctioneers have been warned."

In the meantime, the artist is keeping her spirits high and working on more pieces. "Let's face it, though it did anger and upset me, there are a lot worse things going on in the world than me losing a couple of dishes. It hasn't put me off leaving my work at Coopers, David and Pam Warr have been very kind in letting me show my work on their premises."