Glory Art Glass is celebrating 30 years of glassmaking in Sandown, marking three decades of colour, creativity and family tradition on the Isle of Wight.
Founded in 1996 by husband and wife Martin and Nicola Evans, Glory Art Glass began as a family business, with their two sons joining them as apprentices.
Thirty years later, the studio gallery has stood the test of time, becoming a much-loved part of Sandown’s creative landscape and adding a splash of vibrant colour to the town and the wider Island.
Retrospective memorial exhibition
To mark the anniversary and honour Martin’s life and work, a retrospective memorial exhibition will be open to the public from the 21st September 2026 (Monday–Saturday, 10am–5pm)
The exhibition will offer visitors the opportunity to see a vast collection of Martin’s work including paintings, ceramics, wood and metal and celebrate the remarkable contribution he made to glassmaking on the Isle of Wight.
From Royal Navy shipwright to glassmaker
Martin’s journey into glassmaking began with an unusual background. He originally trained as a shipwright in the Royal Navy, where he developed exceptional skills in fabricating and manipulating a wide range of materials – essentially learning how to make and repair anything on a ship.
As a side line he was the ships barber and his claim to fame was serenading the queen with a guitar playing and singing the song “Johnny B. Goode”. He saw some of the most beautiful places on the planet while touring on the Royal Yacht Britannia but always claimed the Isle of Wight was up there with the best.
After leaving the Navy, Martin married Nicola and settled on the Isle of Wight, where Nicola gave birth to two daughters Danielle and Virginia. Always an artist and maker at heart, Martin’s passion for glass was sparked after becoming friends with Mike Harris of Isle of Wight Glass.
Martin went on to work alongside Mike for 25 years, developing his skills and falling in love with the molten medium. Danielle also trained with him at Isle of Wight Glass. In 1996, he and Nicola took the leap and established their own studio, Glory Art Glass, in Sandown.
Glass installations across the Island
Over the years, the studio has produced a huge variety of vibrant decorative pieces, including homeware, drinkware and sculpture, and many awards for local events, as well as undertaking larger commissions.
Martin’s work can be found throughout the island, including a number of glass installations at St Mary’s Hospital.
Keeping the flame alive
For the past decade, Martin and Nicola’s youngest son, Ed, and his wife Hannah, have been running the studio.
Ed inherited not only his father’s glassmaking skills, but also his flair for showmanship. Demonstrations are an important part of Glory Art Glass, giving visitors the opportunity to see molten glass transformed before their eyes.
Ed says that well-travelled customers have often told him they have watched glassmaking demonstrations all over the world – even in Murano, Italy, one of the world’s most famous glassmaking centres – yet have described his demonstrations as the best they have seen.
Passionate about his craft, Ed has no intention of slowing down.
“I intend to keep making glass for as long as possible – another 30 years at least!”
Glass in the blood
Glassmaking really is in the family. Martin trained both of his sons, as well as his daughter Danielle, who now runs her own successful glass studio in the USA. Martin’s brother-in-law, Marcus Dennington, Nicola’s brother, is also a glassmaker and spent many years working for Isle of Wight Glass.
It has truly become a family affair, with generations of skills, creativity and knowledge connected by the same passion for glass.
A bittersweet celebration
This 30th anniversary is a particularly poignant milestone for the family. Martin sadly passed away on 9th August 2025, making this year’s celebrations both bittersweet and deeply meaningful.
Thankfully, Ed and Hannah are continuing to keep the flame burning and Martin’s legacy alive.
While much of their work today is their own, Glory Art Glass continues to produce several ranges based on Martin’s original designs. His influence remains a constant presence in the studio, and his creativity continues to inspire the family.
News shared by Ed on behalf of Glory Art Glass. Ed
