About Us

The Guild of Glass engravers is the only organisation in the UK specifically dedicated to the art of glass engraving.

The primary aim of the Guild is to promote the highest standards of creative design and craftsmanship in glass engraving. We act as a forum for the teaching and discussion of engraving techniques and new developments from around the world.

We also act as a source of information to the public on all aspects of glass  engraving and surface decoration on glass, and advise the growing number of individuals and institutions wishing to commission work. Membership is worldwide and open to anyone interested in engraved glass, from the most skilled and experienced engravers to those whose interest is purely appreciative.

We are a registered charity, funded entirely through members’ subscriptions and by donations.

Who We Are

The Guild of Glass Engravers is run by its Trustees, a dedicated team of members who give their time voluntarily, and a part-time Administrator. Currently these are:

Jon Monkcom: Lay Member. Chair & Treasurer
Robert Page: Craft Member. Website Administrator
Claudia Phipps FGE: Fellow
Ivana Zivkovic-Rashlich FGE: Fellow. Overseas Representative
Andrew Hall: Craft Member
Christine Pope: Lay Member

Our President is Tracey Sheppard FGE and our Patron is Mark Holford.
The current Administrator is Hassina Khan.

Where we are

Members of the Guild of Glass Engravers are based in the UK and across the world.

We are proud of our international membership and boast members in several countries in Europe including Germany, Greece and Norway; as well as in Japan, Australia, Mexico and the USA.

The Guild has two very active regional branches in the UK who meet regularly to share practice and skills. The are the Northern branch and the South West  branch.

All members of the Guild of Glass Engravers are welcome to attend any activities held by regional groups, regardless of where they are based. The Northern branch meets in Bedale in Yorkshire approximately six times a year. To find out more about their activities contact their secretary, Sandra Snaddon, sandra@snaddon.com or click here. The South West branch usually meets in West Buckland in Somerset, except for their AGM which has been held at Sonja Klingler’s glass blowing studio in Frome, Somerset. To find out more about their activities contact their secretary, Sue Burne, sueburneart@gmail.com or click here.

Our history

Engraving on glass to make decorative marks has been carried out in the UK since before Roman times, and there have been Guilds and livery Companies since the Middle Ages, but the Guild of Glass Engravers was founded only 50 years ago.

It was started by Elly Eliades and Elaine Freed who were students of distinguished engraver, Peter Dreiser. Wanting to form a professional body for glass engravers, they contacted a number of other notable engravers and held a meeting in 1975. Laurence Whistler was invited to be the first President and John Hutton the first Vice President. Within 10 years membership had risen to over 700 and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother became Patron in 1980. Continuing to go from strength to strength the organisation became a Registered Charity in 1993.

To see a list of all the people who have helped make the Guild of Glass Engravers into the organisation it is today click here.