Penny has been making glass since graduating from West Surrey College of art and Design in 1987. The quality and immediacy of the use of colour attracted her attention initially. The techniques are very similar to hot glass blowing, glass alters from a liquid to a solid as temperatures vary, responding to forces such as centrifugal movement and gravity. She is captivated by the direct way of working with the colours and making instant decisions applying additional colour, playing with layers of opaque and transparent. It is quite possible to paint with the liquid glass. How is it done? The glass elements are made by melting glass rods in the flame at temperatures between 800-900oc. I prefer to use the Italian Murano rods. The molten glass is manipulated on a mandrel (a metal rod) and then by overlaying colours, applying dots, spots and bands of opaque or transparent colour the possibilities are endless.  Rich Mediterranean colours are inspired by the vibrant hot colours of the Garigue - from prickly pears to pomegranates, from green lizards to caterpillars.