Team
The company has 14 employees, with a wide spread of experience from apprentices to mid-career conservators, and several staff members with 30 plus years experience. Two of our staff members are SPAB Fellows, and one is a fully trained stonemason, bringing to the team an awareness of other conservation disciplines and philosophies.
Helen Bree BA(Hons.)
Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
BA Hons. Sculpture, Manchester Metropolitan University, 1996 – 1999. NVQ Level 3 Stained glass 2005. Pro-skills advanced “apprenticeship of the year” - highly commended, 2007. Travelling Craft Scholarship to conservation workshops in Germany and Belgium, 2004. Steven’s design competition – commendation, 2003.
Helen was employed at Holy Well Glass in 2003.
Jack Clare ACR, BA(Hons.), PGDip, SPAB Fellow
Director and Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
ICON Accredited Conservator Restorer (ACR). BA (Hons). English Literature and Spanish, Bath Spa University, 2010 - 2013. Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism, Cardiff University, 2013-2014. SPAB Fellow 2017. Chemistry for Conservators Course, International Academics Projects, 2021. Jack has long term involvement in the family business, and is immersed in developing strategies to take the business into the future.
Steve Clare MBE, ACR, FMGP
Director, and Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
ICON accredited conservator Restorer. Fellow of the British Society of Master Glass Painters, Liveryman of the Glaziers Company. National Stained Glass Advisor to the National Trust. External assessor for ICON Professional Accreditation of Conservator Restorers. External assessor for AABC, the register of Accredited Architects in Building Conservation. Steve commenced training at Fulham Glass House under Carl Edwards in 1980. He spent a further 10 years at Chapel Studios, mentored by Alf Fisher, before setting-up HWG in 1995. In 2020 Steve was awarded an MBE for services to stained glass conservation. In 2021 Steve was awarded the Plowden medal for his tireless encouragement of younger professionals into the sector.
Gemma Curtis BA
Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
BA Architectural Stained Glass, Swansea Metropolitan University, 2008 - 2011. Gemma was awarded The George and Evelyn Gee Prize for Craftsmanship in 2016, from the Worshipful Company of Glaziers, as part of their annual Steven’s Competition.
Gemma was employed as a trainee conservator at Holy Well Glass in 2013.
Joanna Moylett BA (Hons.), MA
Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
BA(Hons), Plymouth University, Contemporary Craft, 2013-2016. MA in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management, University of York, 2018 – 2020. Jo undertook the Worshipful Company of Glaziers' Award for Excellence before joining the team in 2020.
Chris Elliott
Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
After 9 years working in the service industry up to management level Chris decided upon a change of direction and started at Holy Well Glass in 2016.
Sarah Knighton ACR, AMGP, BA(Hons.)
Studio Manager, Senior Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, Glazier
ICON accredited conservator Restorer. BA Hons. Architectural Stained Glass, Swansea Metropolitan University, 2005 – 2008. Chemistry for Conservators Course, International Academics Projects, 2016. Awarded the 2016 “New glass artist of the year” accolade by the Worshipful Company of Glaziers. Winner of the 2016 Steven’s Competition and Prize for Presentation. Sarah began as a trainee conservator at Holy Well Glass in 2008.
Stuart Low HND
Stained Glass Artist and Maker
HND Architectural Stained Glass, Swansea Institute of Higher Education, 1990 – 1993.
Stuart is a freelance stained glass artist, whose private commissions are generally focused on work in the public realm. Alongside this he works for Holy Well Glass on a part-time basis, bringing his finely honed practical skills to the workplace. He is a member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen.
Clare Mardall BA, MA
Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
BA Spanish Languages and Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, 1988 – 1992. MA in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management, University of York, 2010 – 2012.
After her studies Clare has been working freelance in the United States, before joining the team at Holy Well Glass in 2017.
Jon Pullen NVQ3
Stonemason & Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
NVQ 3 Craft Masonry/Heritage skills, 2012.
Jon spent 10 years working for Wells Cathedral Stonemasons, recently working on a range of prestigious Oxford Colleges; gaining valuable site experience in stone conservation and restoration, during which he rose from the position of labourer to site supervisor. In addition to Jon’s considerable stonemasonry skills he now seeks to build up new skills in the allied trade of stained glass. He began his training at Holy Well Glass in 2017.
Jacquie Rusca
Accounts administrator
Jacquie Rusca joined Holy Well Glass in 2017 to administer the Accounts function of the business. This has gradually evolved and now includes other administration functions to help with the smooth running of the office. Jacquie has worked in finance and customer services throughout her career and has much experience across a number of trade and hospitality sectors.
Shane Toomey BA(Hons.)
Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
BA Hons. 3 - Dimensional Design: Idea Material Object, Bath Spa University, 2010 - 2013.
Shane started work at Holy Well Glass in 2013. In 2017 he completed his 3 year Apprenticeship in Stained Glass Practice, organised through the Worshipful Company of Glaziers.
Kevin Wallbridge
Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
BA(Hons) Philosophy, University of Warwick, 2010. MPhil, Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, 2012. PhD, University of Edinburgh, 2016. Kevin has previously worked in academia, publishing a number of books and articles while working as a researcher and lecturer in Philosophy at the Universities of Cyprus and Southampton. He made the change to working in conservation and joined the team at Holy Well in 2020.
April Owens
Stained Glass Conservator, Painter, and Glazier
BA (Hons), 3D Design (specialising in glass), Manchester University. April works part time at Holy Well Glass, and part time as a self-employed artist