Born in Prague and brought up in England, Peter Layton studied ceramics at the Central School of Art and Design in London under some of the foremost potters of the day. He chanced upon glassblowing while teaching ceramics at the University of Iowa and since returning to Britain has been continuously at the forefront in promoting this magical and versatile medium.
Spinnakers Gallery holds a wide selection of Peter Layton Glass to view online.
In the early 70's Peter Layton was instrumental together with Sam Herman, in setting up the Glasshouse in Covent Garden. He subsequently established his own small glass studio at his pottery at Morar in the Highlands of Scotland, a Glass Department at Hornsey College of Art (Middlesex University) and in 1976, the London Glassblowing Workshop in an old towage works on the Thames at Rotherhithe.
Peter established London Glass blowing in 1976 and subsequently formed Peter Layton and Associates Limited in response to a desire to work on a more ambitious scale. Together with Simon Moss, Peter has produced a number of large-scale stainless steel and glass sculptures, commissioned for architectural settings
| Paradiso - Wide stone form, medium |
 |
| |
"Since its establishment in the early 90's, the company has specialized in combining glass with metals, creating spectacular pieces to enhance both public and private spaces. We enjoy exploring monumental scale and the ambiguous visual qualities of light and material, and resolving the complex physical, spatial and aesthetic challenges they present.
CURRICULAM VITAE: PETER LAYTON
1960-62 Bradford College of Art, England
1962-65 Central School of Art and Design, London
1972-80 Lecturer: Various Art Colleges in USA and Britain
1976 Opened the London Glassblowing Workshop
1996 Publication of “Glass Art” by Peter Layton
2001 The Workshop is 25 years old and the oldest glassblowing studio in the UK.
2002 Honorary member of the Contemporary Glass Society
Launch of two websites www.londonglassblowing.co.uk and www.peterlaytonglass.co.uk
2003 Received Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Bradford
Teaching Positions
1976/80 Camberwell and Croydon College of Art
1969/76 Hornsey College of Art
1968/69 Stoke-on-Trent College of Art
1965/68 Various Universities in the US
Selected Exhibitions Include
2007 “Peter Layton and Friends” – World of Glass, Merseyside; Hub Centre, Lincolnshire; National Glass Centre, Sunderland
“Early Summer” – Delamore Arts, Devon
2006 “Peter Layton and Friends” – Candover Gallery, Arlesford
“Tangents” – Glass Art Gallery, London
“Peter Layton and Friends” – Church Gallery, Chagford
2005 “SOFA Chicago” - USA
“Galerie Klute” – Germany
“Leon Salet Gallery” – Maastricht, Holland
“Glass Trail / Chihuly Gardens of Glass” – Kew, UK
“London Art Fair” – London, UK
“21st Century British Glass” – London, UK
2004 “British Glass Biennale” – Stourbridge, West Midlands
“Fragile Cargo” - Anglo Hungarian travelling exhibition
“Art in Essence” – London, UK
“Chelsea Craft Fair” – London, UK
“Metamorphosis” – London, UK
“Isle Gallery” – Isle of Man, UK
2003 “Feel the Heat”, Grace Barrand Design Centre
“The art of glass and Embroidery”, The De Morgan Centre
Glass Inspirations, Switzerland
“Vessels” Romney Marsh Craft Gallery
“Six of the Best”, Candover Gallery
“Heavenly Scent” The Glass Art Gallery, London
“Haiku and Glass”, The Glass Art Gallery, London
2002 Chelsea Crafts Fair, London
Solo exhibition, Freed Gallery, USA
Solo exhibition, Luniverre Gallery. Paris
“Tree of Life”, group touring exhibition
The Alexander Gallery, Brighton
The Corning Museum of Glass, New York
“9By9” The Glass Art Gallery, London
“Inspirations” Hill House, Edinburgh
Pyramid Gallery, York
2001 Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Yorkshire Crafts Centre, Bradford
Alpha House Gallery
Pyramid Gallery, York
2000 Sable V and Freed Gallery in USA
Montpellier Gallery, Stratford Upon Avon
Hugo Barclay, Brighton
1999 Chelsea Crafts Fair, London
Candover, New Alresford
Oriel Myrddin Gallery
Montpellier Gallery, Stratford Upon Avon
Hugo Barclay Gallery, Brighton
National Glass Centre, Sunderland
Josianne leer, Luxemburg and Georg Michael Gausling, Germany.
1997 Novy Bor Symposium, Czech Republic
Pyramid Gallery, York
Devon Guild of Craftsmen Bovey Tracey
Mid Cornwall Gallery
Candover Gallery, Alresford
1996 British Council Touring Exhibition, Slovak and Czech Republic
Candover Gallery, Hampshire and London
1993 Crafts Council Exhibition “The Glass Show”
European Glass Sculpture, Liege and Luxemburg
1992 Le Verre- international Exhibition of Glass, Rouen, France
Public Collections
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Liverpool Museum
Castle Museum, Nottingham
National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England
Broadfeild House Glass Museum
Gus Knrvstainy Glass Museum, Russia
International glass Museum, Ebelforf, Denmark
Glasgow Museum
Norwich Museum and Art Gallery
Major Commissions Include
Apex House, Reading (suspended sculpture) 2003
Tree of Life, A picture of health limited (Sculpture), 2002
IPE International Awards, 2002
Workplace Art, Ice Basket Sculpture, 2002
Celebrity Cruises “Constellation” (Sculpture) 2002
Celebrity Cruises, “Summit”, (Sculpture) 2001
Celebrity Cruises, “Infinity”, (Sculpture)
Celebrity Cruises, “Radiance of the Seas”, (Sculpture)
Celebrity Cruises, “Millennium 1”, (Sculpture)
Princess Lines, “Sea Princess”, (Sculpture)
RCCL “Vision of the Seas” and “Legends of the Seas” (Sculpture)
Seatrade awards
International Emma Awards
P & O, “Dawn Princess” and “Sun Princess”, (Sculpture)
Savoy theatre (Lighting)
British Gas Awards
Water Sculpture, private collection
London Docklands Development Corporation Awards
Recent Selected Press
2007 “How to spend it” – Evening Standard
“Bookshelf” – Grand Designs Magazine
2006 “Celebrating 30 years of London Glassblowing” – CGS Newsletter
“Peter Layton and Friends “ exhibition – Devon Life
“Reflecting on the beauty of glass” – Art in Devon
“Tangents at The Glass Art Gallery” – Evening Standard
“Colourful International artists” – Art Times, South Africa
“The insider / Lets twist again” – The Independent
“Twelve days of Christmas” – Southwark Weekender
“Four unique designs” – Metro
“Rising to the challenge” – World Art Glass Quarterly, AUS
“London Glassblowing Workshop – a celebration, Neues Glas, Germany
“Artist portrait – Peter Layton” – This Side Up!, Netherlands
“Masters of glass” – Evening Standard, Homes and Property section
“Art News, Sculpture monumentale” – Verre Contemporain
“Art of Glass” – Southwark Weekender
“ Peter Layton and Friends” – Craftsman Magazine
“London Glassblowing” – Live in London
“Best small visitor attraction of the year” – Visit London
“A lire / Book review” – Verre & Creation
2003 “A Class Act” – Hereford and Worcestershire Life Magazine, May issue
“In a glass of their own” - Evening Standard, Homes and Property section
“Peter Layton Mirages et marées” – Revue de Ceramique et du Verre, Issue 128
Peter Layton 
