Matthew Lloyd-Winder's Stained Glass 'On Steroids' - Grand Designs Show

Matthew Lloyd-Winder, a South Mimms-based stained glass artist who coined the term 'Winderlite', displays his extraordinary illuminated stained glass work at the Grand Designs Live at London's ExCel centre in Docklands this week until Sunday 8 May 2016. The artist’s appearance at this year’s show follows up his stand at the same event in 2015 where his innovative and cutting-edge pieces of work were also on display.
Winderlite, as Lloyd-Winder calls it, is touted as opening up massive potential for home owners looking for ways to include glass colour light and texture in their homes - perhaps beside a front door or at the end of your a hallway - to create that certain wow factor. This is British craftsmanship at its best and each piece is unique - just like you.
So, if you are looking for inspiration for light in your home, that really special present or just to see some fascinating and beautiful 3D 'kinetic' stained glass - as with his caldera-style (volcanic) creations that are double- or triple-glazed with paint and back-lit LED illuminations - you will certainly be in the right place.
Having worked in the stained glass business since the early 1980's, Matthew told me he has expanded his design repertoire from traditional leaded lights to his latest kinetic works. The later have been described as akin to "stained glass on steroids."
Stained glass windows themselves have been made for many centuries. And, in keeping with tradition the artist has made windows for churches such as Our Lady of Delours in Hendon, north London.
Back in 2011 he restored an historic stained glass window in Mill Hill at the Retail Trust that was originally commissioned by architect George Hornblower and created over a century ago in 1898 by Thomas Figgis Curtis and Ward & Hughes Stained Glass Manufacturers of Derby.
Then his studio has been involved in a roster of work on traditional buildings, homes as well as offices. Additionally he can restore traditional windows using traditional styles and colours in order to bring them back to their glorious original state. Adding that extra touch of excellence he is a skilled painter on glass.
Commenting at the Grand Designs show Lloyd-Winder at the Excel centre he says: “Using glass is like painting with light and can transform any room or building. It's also a very old art form that has adapted well to contemporary uses of glass in our environment. Stained glass windows, for example, can include many different techniques during the making from etching glass to fusing glass, painting on glass and leading together to make a traditional leaded panel.”
The Stained Glass Studio makes and produces various stained glass, fused glass, painted glass and the relatively new ‘Winderlite’ product for every style of building. Led by Lloyd-Winder, the studio is located just north of London around the M25 at South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Each piece of stained glass is made specifically for clients, with colours, style and designs made specific requirements.
The studio, which can also be visited by special request, has invented a range of techniques that take the ancient art of stained glass to an entirely new level, creating everything from windows and doors to shower screens, partitions, roof lights, floors, ceilings and stair treads, which can all be made to order.
In fact, the range of designs is limited only by one’s imagination as the images should hopefully illustrate. Lloyd Winder's works and samples exhibited at the Grand Designs show in London can be purchased from his stand (E52) in the Grand arcade, while a bespoke commission can be requested subject to a site survey. Prices and quotations on application.  
For more information about the Stained Glass Studio see: www.stainedglassstudio.co.uk  
Tel: 07976 229346 or Email: matthew@stainedglassstudio.co.uk
For details on Grand Designs Live (30 April-8 May) see: www.granddesignslive.com/