Ed and Margaret Burke joined forces and created E&M Glass in the mid 1980s. They have been designing and making unique works of art for the table from their studio on the Welsh/English borders since 1988.
Margaret Burke specialises in the cold working of glass. She designs and embellishes a range of plates, bowls and glasses. Primarily inspired by Primitive Art, she has developed the technique of etching through layers of coloured glass to create designs that are both contrasting and tactile. Margaret enjoys working on the functional form, creating ranges of tableware that emphasise the functionality of each piece.
Ed Burke is a master glassblower. Having discovered glass at the age of eighteen he embarked on a career in the medium. Studying at college he obtained a BA (Hons) degree in glass design and then worked and learned from many established glassmakers. In 1988 he built his own furnace and studio and began producing his unique style of glassware. Specialising in tableware, Ed's interests are in the use of strong colour and shape. His designs range from the manufacture of production ranges to the more exclusive one-off limited editions.
Ed and Margaret's eldest son Charlie has enjoyed being around molten glass since he was 7 years old. Since training in Sunderland at the National Glass Centre and gaining a BA (Hons) degree in Glass an Ceramics Charlie worked at a variety of different studios before joining his parents at E+M Glass.
It was at University that Amy discovered hot glass. She gained her degree in Three Dimensional Design BA (Hons) specialising in hot glass and has worked with it ever since. Amy enjoys exploring the vast potential that the molten glass has to offer especially layering up coloured glass with its refractive and vivid qualities. Her designs lie in the tessellating element of natural shapes such as butterfly wings and shell patterns.
Whilst finishing her degree, Amy had a commission for the Children's Hospital in Manchester. To complete this commission she needed to hire a hot glass workshop. Amy hired the workshop that Charlie was working in at the time and they have been working together ever since. They married in April 2017 after both joining E&M Glass.