The Royal Air Force Club is thrilled to host a competition for Stained-Glass Artists from the British Society of Master Glass Painters (BSMGP) to design a window in our 601 Squadron Room. The design brief is to depict the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) Badge, leaving the background, decoration and technique open to the artists. Each paired with an expert mentor for guidance, the shortlisted artists' designs will be presented to the judges at the Club on 22nd April 2024. Once a winner is chosen we will follow their artistic journey from design to the installation of this window later this year. 

 

MEET THE ARTISTS 

James Cockerill

Artist James Cockerill is known for his expertise in silk screen printing, uses traditional stained glass paints and mouth-blown glass.

James is the founder of HALTglass, a Guildford based studio specialising in print on glass using traditional stained glass materials like hand-made English and German antique glass. James paints and silk-screens striking imagery onto glass, often in collaboration with other artists. He also designs light boxes for his panels to be displayed in.

“Having the opportunity to pitch for the RAF Club commission has been an invaluable experience of collaborating and expanding my skills, with guidance from my wonderful mentor Sarah Knighton of Holywell Glass.” James Cockerill

 

Catherine Lee

Catherine studied stained glass at Piotr Frac studio in east London where she continues to practice. She studied at the Kings Foundation School of Traditional Arts, the City and Guilds London Art School and Chelsea College of Art. Last year she won the architectural stained glass ‘Stevens’ competition as well as the craftsmanship prize. The resulting windows from this competition are for the Worshipful Company of Mercers and are being unveiled this April.

“My brother is in the military and for my MA in History of Art my dissertation was on military art. It therefore seems serendipitous to be shortlisted to design a window here. I recognise how much the armed forces and, more specifically, the RAF Club value art and I look forward to designing a window that means something to the Club and the RAuxAF and that sits in harmony in the space.” Catherine Lee

 

Chad Kenney

Chad Kenney is Air Specialist class 1 (AS1), an Air Cartographer from Fife in Scotland, based at No 1 AIDU, RAF Northolt.

Outside his role in the RAF, Chad enjoys graphic design alongside painting, woodwork, sculpting and building websites. Using his creative skills he designs data management plans, process aids and spreadsheets within his role, earning himself a reputation as “The Station Artist” at every RAF station he is based at.

“Being scouted for this project I was elated whilst intimidated, being a Junior Rank in the RAF Club and being an amateur graphic designer offered to compete against artists from the British Society of Master Glass Painters. I am honoured to be competing with such skilled individuals to create a piece of art for such a prestigious organisation, representing the Royal Air Force in a way unlike any other.” Chad Kenney

 

Michael Vincent

Michael Vincent is a stained glass artist based in Wiltshire near Bath where he operates his company, M Vincent Windows & Glazing.

Over the past 14 years, he has focused the direction of the business towards traditional glazing methods and craftsmanship of stained glass, but in the last few years he has started studying and practicing the medium of painting stained glass. This opened up a whole new world of possibilities and allowed him to enhance his skills and knowledge to produce new stained glass projects and also important conservation and restoration work to stained glass.

“I am so very humbled to have been shortlisted for the competition, amongst a group of fellow talented stained glass artists from across the country, it would be an honour to have the opportunity to have my work in the prestigious RAF club with a its wealth of history and renowned reputation.” Michael Vincent

 

Natasha Redina

Natasha Redina was first introduced to glass at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts. She fell in love with the medium straight away and how it was possible to ‘paint with light’. She continued her studies in geometry there and also went on to receive a Distinction in both her UAL and BTEC diplomas in Glass. She won the Brian Thomas Memorial Prize, First Prize for Design, two years in a row, at the prestigious Stevens Architectural Glass competition run by the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass. She was the first livery recipient of the Lever award, which gave her the opportunity to travel and learn from various master glass workers for 30 weeks and became a member of the guild of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers. She has taken part in various exhibitions including the BSMGP centenary exhibition and she recently completed a large-scale commission in Oxfordshire for the WWI poet Wilfred Owen.

“It’s a privilege to be considered for the RAuxAF commission. Working on the Wilfred Owen window last year, led me to the battlefields in Europe, and I saw how many sacrificed their lives to protect their country. I also learnt that most of the RAF fighting in WWII was done by ‘reservists’. The ethos of courage and pushing boundaries at the RAF has been inspiring. From the pioneering spirit of the early pilots onwards, Lord Trenchard's vision continues to grow.

On a personal level it means a lot me, as my great aunt, Joan Radford, was part of the WAAF during WWII and my great uncle, Robert Coventry, was part of the Peanut Club, children treated by Sir Archibald McIndoe, the plastic surgeon who treated RAF pilots and created the Guinea Pig Club.

I am grateful to be considered on this shortlist of finalists for this window, alongside four other very talented artists. Each of whom has a unique style and vision, so I am very excited to see the other great designs. I would also like to thank the work of the BSMGP for promoting stained glass and creating these opportunities for new and emerging artists.” Natasha Redina