Recently I was commissioned by the Scottish Maritime Museum in Dumbarton to work with the local Dumbarton community, providing them with an opportunity to learn about and produce a stained-glass panel highlighting some of the stories and information found in the “Denny Arkivz”.

The “Denny Arkivz” is a scrapbook which was kept by the Denny Brothers shipyard in Dumbarton into which members of their staff saved drawings, sketches, information on staff outings, and other bits and bobs which the staff wanted to record or keep. This also included letters sent home from abroad from staff during the second world war thanking the company for parcels of tobacco and general news from the soldiers.

It is a fascinating piece of social history and contains many interesting details from times gone by.

Initially the group discussed ideas together to decide upon the composition of the window, a particular image in the Arkivz was perfectly suited to our needs and a clear choice for our starting point. Over the next few weeks we discussed the themes, subject matter and imagery we wanted to focus on for inclusion in the panel. We discussed colour choices and how each individual would approach their chosen subject matter in terms of whether they would hand draw and paint their pieces of glass or screenprint their images onto the glass. This collaborative approach not only ensured that everyone had a voice but also fostered a sense of ownership over the project.

Programme artwork included in the Arkivz that influenced the design of the community stained-glass panel.

After the initial brainstorming we began learning and practicing the intricate techniques involved in creating a stained-glass panel. The participants learned how to cut glass, paint or screenprint imagery onto glass, cut leads, assemble the panel and then solder, cement and finally clean and black the panel.

The process was not just about creating art; it was a bonding experience and hopefully a memorable one for the participants and something to be rightfully proud of.

This stained-glass project is more than just art; it’s a symbol of collaboration, creativity, and connection. The stained-glass not only enhances the aesthetics of the space, it also serves as a beacon of community spirit, magnifying the ethos of the Denny Brothers Shipyard employees. It has illuminated not only the Scottish Maritime Museum but also everyone involved, proving that when we come together, we can create something really wonderful.

Eilidh Mackenzie, glass artist.

Eilidh is an established glass artist with over 25 years’ experience as a contemporary designer maker alongside a background in professional stained-glass restoration and conservation with Liz Rowley Studio. She has worked as a glass lecturer at City of Glasgow College for the last 10 years leaving in January 2025 to pursue her own practice and other avenues for teaching.

She has a broad range of skills and experience including;

• Initiating and managing freelance commissions in kiln-formed and stained glass from initial consultation, design and making through to installation of the finished works.
• Undertaking restoration and conservation of historic and contemporary stained glass
• Exhibiting and selling original artworks through various prominent Scottish galleries
• Leading glass workshops at primary schools and art centres and tutoring private clients at my home studio and elsewhere
• Working collaboratively with other glass professionals including Cannon and McInnes, Rainbow Glass, Liz Rowley and Verrier.

During a three month residency at Vetrate Artistiche Toscane, Siena, Italy in 2000 she was introduced to kiln-formed glass which has been central to her practice throughout her career.

Attending master-classes at Northlands Creative Glass, Lybster in 2005 and 2007 studying with Klaus Moje and Judith Schaechter had a significant impact on her work.

Between 2010 and 2012 she was a teaching assistant to Karl Harron and together they delivered a series of master-classes in Bullseye reactive glasses and 3 stage deep slumping at Glassforum, Averoy, Norway; Oatka School of Glass, NY, U.S.A. and Weisser Glass Studio, MD, U.S.A.

An active member of the Scottish Glass Society for over 25 years she was on the committee twice, both times acting as Exhibitions Officer and has curated the SGS members show several times.

Eilidh is passionate about all aspects of glass making and has a keen interest in keeping these skills alive by practicing and sharing traditional skills whilst also researching and working with new techniques.