The art of Glass Engraving, after some 3000 years of history, is alive and well. Members of the Guild of Glass Engravers lead the world in the range and quality of the work they produce.

There have been guilds and livery companies in the UK since the middle ages but this guild is comparatively new. The Guild of Glass Engravers was founded about 50 years ago based on an idea by two students of glass engraving, Elly Eliades and Elaine Freed who, finding that no formal glass engraving teaching existed, proposed forming a professional body for this art form. They contacted noted engravers and, after preliminary discussions, the first meeting was held in 1975. Laurence Whistler was invited to be the first President and John Hutton the first Vice President. This fledgling organisation became Registered Charity 1016162 called “The Guild of Glass Engravers” in 1993.

One of the original honorary members and supporters of the Guild was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. She became our first Patron in 1980.

The main aims of the guild are to encourage new ideas, both technical and artistic, and to maintain links with the rest of the glass world. We also strive to educate the public in this most delightful art form.

Follow these links to find out more:

Who We Are

Where We Are in the UK

Our History – all the people who have run the guild since its formation.

This image is of the engraving “Kudu” by Rish Gordon.

Rish grew up in Kenya and spent 4 years at Edinburgh College of Art. She then lived in Fremantle, Western Australia and worked from a studio at her home.

She uses sandblasting with a tape and glue resist then adds detail with a drill and polishes the result. She works on cased glass in several colours made to her specifications as to shape and colours.