Is This the Most Underrated Art Form?

Today we’re stepping into the world of Richard Paton, artist, designer, and founder of Rainbow Glass Studios in Stoke Newington, North London. For more than three decades, Paton has worked at the intersection of traditional stained glass craftsmanship and contemporary artistic experimentation. From ecclesiastical restorations and architectural commissions to kinetic sculptures and mixed-media works exploring ecology and extinction, his practice consistently asks what glass can still become in the twenty-first century. What makes Richard Paton especially compelling is the way he refuses to separate fine art from applied craft. In his studio at 172 Stoke Newington Church Street, medieval techniques sit comfortably alongside kiln-forming, screen printing, etched glass, sculpture, and installation. The result is work that feels historically grounded while remaining unmistakably contemporary. Paton originally trained in fine art before moving into stained glass, and that painterly sensibility remains visible throughout his work. Light is never treated simply as illumination; it becomes narrative material — something emotional, architectural, even philosophical. His recent sculptural projects, including kinetic works responding to environmental fragility and species extinction, extend that thinking into three-dimensional space, where movement and reflection become part of the meaning itself. At the same time, Rainbow Glass Studios has become something of a creative laboratory — collaborating with artists, architects, musicians, private collectors, and public institutions alike. Paton’s approach is rooted in openness: a belief that traditional craft survives not by remaining fixed, but by evolving through experimentation and collaboration. So today, we’ll be exploring Richard Paton’s creative philosophy, the enduring power of stained glass as a living art form, and how material, light, and imagination continue to shape his evolving body of work. Richard's stained glass web site https://rainbowglassstudios.co.uk/ Richard's sculpture web site https://richardpaton.com/ Instagram   / rainbow_glass_studios   Instagram: @chudpaton The Creative Experience is a selection of international interviews with some of the most exciting and innovative stained glass artists working today. If you are a fellow creative, like stained glass, or just want to learn more about your favourite glass artist, check out these deep dive podcasts with some of the best talent in the glass world! 🙂 Would you like to join my channel for exclusive content, special previews and more? If you'd like to support the channel the best way is to join as a member. There are two tiers to chose from, so do check it out!