Futures Fund Case Study: Kathryn Wightman
Kathryn Wightman received her Futures Fund Scholarship in 2009 whilst studying for a PhD in glass and print making. Her innovative multidisciplinary work looked at how to apply image, pattern and text onto blown glass taking traditional glass making discipline to a new level using 21st century laser technology.
To enhance her skills in this area she utilised her scholarship to attend a summer school in London. The money helped her travel to London and invest in the equipment and software needed to deliver new designs. Coming back to Sunderland, she then took this know how and trained up undergraduate glassmaking students in the process using a digital modelling programme called ‘Rhino’.
"I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the donors to the Futures Fund for their scholarship. This has made a huge difference to my capacity to deliver innovative designs whilst at the University and take my work to another level in terms of look and feel."
Kathryn is now an established glass maker in the region with many awards to her name including a Gold at a prestigious competition hosted by the Bullseye Gallery in Portland Oregon.