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Phoenix Studios is Oriel’s workshop and gallery on the edge of Hugh Town, St Mary’s. It is where things are made and where they are sold. As we chatted at her work bench, people breezed in and out, looking at the array of tiffany glass ornaments, bowls and jewellery. It has an informal and friendly air, much like Oriel herself. A couple came in and asked about the disk of blue and
yellow glass that hangs in the studio’s window. It shone in the afternoon light.
“I’m very fond of it, actually. It was the first sundisk I made. 150 individual slivers of glass went into it. Originally I made it to use up all of the off-cuts which had accumulated in the corner. It was destined to become a dish but it was so lovely and vibrant just
hanging in the window. I left it be and made lots more.
Things just happen. I look at breakages or accidents and think “What can I do with this?”. So a lampshade, which cracked in the fusing kiln, was redesigned into a free standing panel. The tube wave panel, for instance, I made out of broken rings of clear glass and it’s proved very popular.”
It is easy to be swept along by Oriel’s laid-back charm and her delight in the accidental nature of some of her work. You can forget just what an accomplished artist she is. Schooled at Croydon and trained in Architectural Decoration at Reigate, her first major commission was for a church in East Croydon. It was for a 36 square foot window of her own design. At the time she was living in Falmouth with her Scillonian husband Steve Hicks.
Using their attic as a studio, Oriel made the window in sections and transported it back to Croydon.
In 1991, she and Steve had moved back to Scilly. She wandered into the church in Hugh Town to see a new stained glass window being fitted. Jokingly, she said to the parish priest: “I could have done that…”. He quickly replied that there was another one needed and he would be happy if she could oblige. It was to
be a memorial window for Vic Trenwith, donated by the Scillonian Entertainers, 16 feet high and 2 feet 6 inches wide.
“I am a great believer in serendipity. This window was a huge opportunity for me. It took me four months to make and it is comprised of 537 individual pieces of glass. I know every single one of them intimately.”
The St Christopher window in St Mary’s church is rather more traditional in style than those of Bryher church. As such it is very much in keeping with the other stained glass windows that decorate Scilly’s Christian hub. Oriel’s work is distinctive nonetheless. The figure of StChristopher dominates the glass,carrying the infant Christ across a swirling stream. At his feet, a Scillonian theme develops as the aruum lilies give way to agapanthus, narcissi and a memorial scroll to Vic Trenwith, founder and president of the Scilloninan Entertainers. Below this
are depicted the masks of Tragedy and Comedy and a bugle. On foggy days, many years ago, Vic would be found at Peninis blowing his bugle. The hour was always the same. Vic’s audience was the Scillonian I and his bugling a navigational mark. He was alerting the captain of the approach to St Mary’s Sound.
For islanders and visitors alike, the wonderful thing about Oriel’s work is that it is accessible. So much of it is all around us. Some of her work can be found about the islands, from the sacred to the secular, churches, private houses and hotels. It is even possible to produce your own work at Phoenix Studio. Oriel runs craft sessions all year round on weekday afternoons, open to anyone over the age of four. Learning to hand paint glass, decorating
ceramics or fabrics, are some of the activities available. Oriel will always welcome those who might just want to see work in progress, stained glass windows or otherwise. A visit to Phoenix Studio, will also lead you painlessly to the Phoenix Craft Workshops which adjoins Oriel’s workshop. This exciting new project houses craft units for local artisits and their work, such as Imogen Bone, Tracy Brown, Vickie Heaney and Mike and Karrie of Scilly Stuff. There is also an upper gallery showing work by local and Cornish artisans, such as Sue Lewington.
Oriel’s work is magical and protean. It comes in all manner of different forms. There are some things of which you can be certain, however. There will be light, there will be glass and there will be beauty.”
Oriel Hicks
Phoenix Studio, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly TR21 0JY
01720 422900
www.phoenixstainedglass.co.uk
oriel@taterdu.plus.com
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