This week the blog pulls up a stool at the kiln with Arran Glass Artist, the fused glass studio of Paul McGarrie in Lamlash, in the Isle of Arran. Paul has been selling his glass through us since 2020, and his shelves hold everything from £35 tea light holders to a £280 Celtic cross.
Arran gets called Scotland in miniature, with mountains in the north, gentler farmland in the south and a coastline that keeps painters and photographers in steady work. Lamlash sits in the east of the island, looking across the bay to Holy Isle, and it is from there that these pieces make their way to the ferry and onwards to your door – with UK P&P included on many of the listings, pleasingly.
Every piece is hand cut and fused in the kiln, and some take their time about it – one sculpture spent two full days in there. The techniques range widely too, from hand painting with glass enamel to pate de verre, the method behind that Celtic cross. Many pieces sit on wooden or oak bases made to match. Three picks below to show the spread.
Highland coo tea light holder – £45
Arran Glass Artist, Isle of Arran
A fused glass Highland coo built to hold a tea light, in a choice of three colours. At 16 cm long and 8.5 cm high it earns its place on a windowsill or mantelpiece, and once the candle is lit the coo glows in a way real Highland cattle, for all their charm, cannot manage. A cheering gift for anyone who slows the car for every coo they pass.
Kingfisher – £70
Arran Glass Artist, Isle of Arran
A fused glass kingfisher, hand cut and set on an oak base, standing 20 cm tall with the glass a sturdy 6 mm thick. Kingfishers are the show-offs of the riverbank, and glass suits them – sit this one where the light can reach it and it does the rest. A lovely pick for the birdwatcher who already owns all the binoculars they could need.
Dolphins riding the wave – £120
Arran Glass Artist, Isle of Arran
Fused glass dolphins riding a curved wave, on a custom-made matching stand. The wave stands 26 cm tall and 22 cm wide, and the maker recommends a window spot, since sunlight through the glass is what makes it sing. The showpiece of the three, and the one for anyone who has stood on a ferry deck scanning the water for a fin.
More from the Lamlash kiln
The range keeps going – Celtic knot candle holder sets in amber or blue, a textured glass seahorse, a collie herding a lamb, a horse and foal, and that pate de verre Celtic cross for a truly special occasion. Tea light holders start at £35, with a cat and a Buddha alongside the coo, so there is a way in at most budgets.
Every piece is made in the island, so a purchase here lands the money in an Arran studio. Browse the full range at Arran Glass Artist, see what else comes from the island in the Isle of Arran collection, or meet another island maker in our Slàinte Sauces story.
