Richard Paton

Windows for St Augustine's Chelmsford and St Barnabas Kensington

Richard Paton graduated from Liverpool with BA (Hons) in Fine Art in 1990 and was then awarded an MA in Visual Culture at Middlesex University in 1998. He is a self taught stained glass artist with 20 years in the trade who started Rainbow Glass Studios, based in Stoke Newington, North London, in 2001 .

In that time Richard has had hundreds of commissions which have required different techniques and designs to fulfill the very diverse briefs. These range from corporate work to individual commissions from the rich and famous through to work in Churches. The variety of glass techniques at his disposal uniquely puts him at an advantage to explore interesting and original work. He also teaches regularly at his studio on weekday evenings and runs Saturday workshops for beginners. His work has been featured on TV and at the National Gallery. He is also on the committee for the Contemporary Glass Society who promote the work of glass artists.

Commission: Etched windows at All Saints Hutton

Yesterday seven etched windows to designs by Henry Shelton were installed at All Saints Hutton, our fourth completed commission. Each window contains iconography representing a different saint, with the seven saints featured being Cecilia, Martin of Tours, Peter, Mary, Paul, James the Great, and Margaret of Antioch.

Henry Shelton's designs have an economy of line and gesture which conjure eloquent and elegant meanings from the most minimal of marks. An earlier commission for etched windows by Shelton can be found at All Saints Goodmayes utilising a similar style but focusing on scenes from the Life of Christ. The etching at All Saints Hutton was undertaken by Richard Paton of Rainbow Glass Studios.

The commission is in memory of Mrs Patricia Harries. Her husband writes, "Henry's designs have come out superbly. I am so pleased that the whole project has gone so well and I am sure that my wife approves as well." A service at which the Archdeacon of Southend will dedicate the windows is planned for Sunday 27th March 2011 at 11.15am.