Capturing the delight and attention of young and old, Neil Wilkin’s spectacular ‘Dew Drops’ glisten in the dancing sunlight. Meticulously sculpted from solid glass, these immaculate forms capture - and flip - the surroundings perfectly. Most at home along the water’s edge - the light reflecting and refracting from the rippling water is mirrored in the droplets of glass. A photographer’s dream - a thousand viewpoints through the cluster. Described as a master in his field, and one of Britain’s most important hot-glass makers, the quality of Wilkin’s work truly speaks for itself.⠀
Wilkin’s drops are individually formed from incredibly high-quality glass and the attention to detail follows through into the base of the pieces. Not content with a simple steel rod, each stem is painstakingly crafted to mimic a growing stem.
"It was colour and heat that first pulled me towards the furnace at college. I had gone to work with my hands as a potter, and left obsessed with fire and glass making.”⠀
For almost 40 years, Neil Wilkin has perfected many different glass-making techniques including restoration work (such as the coveted commission to make the ‘blanks’ for the fire damaged chandeliers from Windsor Castle) and clients including Asprey, Four Seasons, Cunard, Langham, & Natural History Museum of Copenhagen who commissioned 5 large intricately detailed spiders.
His work is found in public and private collections across the globe, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and Crafts Council Collection here in the UK.
Outdoor Sculpture
‘White Flower’
glass and stainless steel
flower head: 45cm high by 55cm across
230 cm total height
‘Tulip (#5)’
hot formed glass, optic glass centre, stainless steel
glass: 45 cm x 57 cm x 54 cm
Stem: 120 cm
‘Dew Drops’
glass and stainless steel (Tapered stems)
glass 10 cm - 14 cm diameter
stems 180 cm - 250 cm
‘Tulip Double (#8)
hot formed glass, optic glass centre, stainless steel
glass: 78 cm x 70 cm x 52 cm
Stem 120 cm
‘Seven Drops’
glass and stainless steel
190 cm tall
‘Tulip (#6)’
hot formed glass, optic glass centre, stainless steel, limestone base
glass: 52 cm x 56 cm x 60 cm
‘Big Red Flower’
hot formed glass, stainless steel
230cm tall inc. stem
head 90cm x 95cm x 63cm
On Saturday 11th July, we are proud to present ‘In Conversation with…Neil Wilkin’. Gallery Curator Vikki Leedham will host the evening - with Neil leading us on a visual journey through his artistic practice, inspiration, challenges and commissions.
Limited places remaining for this special event - split between The Indoor Gallery, and Neil Wilkin’s new installation* within the Sculpture Garden.
* to be installed just prior to the event!
Join us for a very special afternoon event split across our Indoor Gallery and out in the Sculpture Garden, with one of Britain’s master Glassmakers - Neil Wilkin. Visitors to the Sculpture Garden will be familiar with Wilkin’s work - lining the edge of ponds and bursting from the lush planting as if a brand new species of flower. Capturing the delight of young and old, there is no denying Neil Wilkin’s incredible skill and imagination.
Saturday 11th July 2026.
Timings: 5pm to 7pm, including break. (timings subject to slight change, TBC)
Gallery Curator Vikki Leedham will host the afternoon - as Neil takes us on a journey through his artistic practice, inspiration, challenges and commissions. Where and when did it all begin? The answer might surprise you!
Most notably, especially for a glass maker, Neil and his partner - and fellow glass artist - Roberta Mason have strived to make their custom studio carbon-neutral. No mean feat when their practice relies on extraordinary heat to form their work - so Neil will share this truly inspiring aspect of his practice.
A visual journey will accompany Neil and Vikki’s conversation - prepare to be swept away into a glorious, technicolour world of incredible glass. Neil is installing a dramatic collection of towering forms amongst our foliage just a few days prior - join us in the Garden to hear from Neil beneath these striking sculptures.
The event will be broken in two, separated by an interval with refreshments provided. The second half will feature questions from the audience - so get your thinking caps on!
Light refreshments* will be provided in the interval.
The Indoor Gallery is located up a flight of stairs - at this time the space does not have disabled access.
BOOKINGS CLOSE - Saturday 4th July 2026
*Teas, French-press coffee and scrumptious homemade cakes (vegan option available, please select dietary requirements at check-out).
Flower Garden
In late 2022 and early 2023, Neil Wilkin teamed up with fellow supreme glass maker Rachael Woodman to create ‘Harvest Fruit Gathering’ - a true celebration of glass. The exhibition first showed at Ruthin Craft Centre in Wales, before travelling to the National Glass Centre.
‘Harvest Fruit Gathering’ is about love – of materials; of process; of natural and spiritual worlds. As makers they have committed their lives to a pursuit of perfection in form and colour, harnessing the unique optical and physical qualities of glass. Almost forty years since initiating their collaborative venture in Bath in 1984, Harvest: Fruit Gathering is their first opportunity to present their distinctive bodies of work together.
In July 2023, Neil’s stunning ‘Flower Garden’ - the centre piece of the exhibition, made its way to the Sculpture Garden. Installed amongst the towering Inula that create an avenue along Standon Stream, we were proud to show this striking installation outside for the first time.