A Sunderland student has spent the summer working alongside some of the most talented glass makers in the USA, thanks to support from businessman Mike Clasper CBE. 

The Douglas Clasper Award, named in memory of Mike Clasper’s father, supports Arts and Media students with up to £3,000 to undertake a career enhancing opportunity that will enrich their student experience. 

Rachel McKenna, who is in the final year of her Artist Designer Maker, Glass and Ceramics degree spent last summer in Utah, USA, working with some of the country’s most accomplished stained-glass artists at Holdman Studios. 

“This has been an incredible experience,” says Rachel, 52 from Eaglescliffe. “I learned a vast range of new skills.” 

Holdman Studios create glass commissions throughout the world for businesses, private residence and religious buildings. Their designs can be found in every state in the USA, and as part of her internship Rachel got to work directly with the company’s founder, Tom Holdman.  

Rachel’s scholarship paid for her flights and car hire to travel to her accommodation and workplace every day. As well as working in the glass studio she worked on the Morman Fort Worth Temple. 

“The team let me make a window for Fort Worth and work on a huge skylight for a wealthy client. I was able to demonstrate and develop my skills. I learned so much about materials, painting, design, waterjet and cutting on a diamond saw. 

“I also visited the Lindon Utah Temple. The windows were beautiful. The theme from each Mormon Temple comes from the design of the windows. Once they are designed the internal paintwork, carpets, rugs, are all based on that design.” 

Now Rachel has returned to her studies but feels that her time in Utah with the Holdman team has really impacted on her work, and she hopes to return to the USA in the future to work with them again. She also hopes her experience may help her future career in the UK, as new Morman Temples have been announced for Birmingham, Edinburgh and Dublin. 

“This experience has greatly increased my self-confidence. I would never imagine that I could drive down an eight-lane highway in the US in rush hour. I feel quite liberated!”