Research Culture Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Architectural Glass
I have 30 years of experience as an architectural glass artist, designing and fabricating architectural glass to commission for a wide variety of applications. During this period I have been instrumental in developing the potential of glass in the public realm. My projects range from decorative glass panels for public and private buildings to street furniture and sculptural public art pieces.
Through commission experience, I have built up a wide range of innovative techniques and gained significant knowledge and experience working with glass on a large scale in the public realm, not only in aesthetic terms but also in the design of structure and durability of materials used. Since 2006 I have held the post of Subject Leader and Senior Lecturer in Architectural Glass.
Teaching and supervision
I am Programme Leader for MA Visual Practice and teach architectural glass and professional practice on BA (Hons) Artist, Designer Maker: Glass and Ceramics. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Director of Studies to PhD and MPhil students.
Research interests for potential research students
- Architectural glass
- Public art
- Professional practice
- Historical and contemporary stained glass
Research
My research interests are concerned with the design and fabrication of architectural glass artworks for the public realm. I am interested in the sustainability agenda, creating new works using recycled glass and the incorporating photovoltaic cells and LED lights.
Over the years I have built on my research experience, optimising the developments in new technologies including new developments and techniques in construction. I am interested in the exploration of practice-led research around several interrelated themes: light, environments, and processes. This includes the relationships between glass and the environment and ways of placing glass within different settings.
Publications
Article
Wadsworth, Fabian, Llewellin, Edward, Rennie, Colin, Watkinson, Cate, Mitchell, Joanna, Vasseur, Jeremie, Mackie, Fleur, Carr, Alexandra, Schmiedel, Tobias, Witcher, Taylor, Soldati, Arianna, Jackson, Lucy E, Foster, Annabelle, Hess, Kai-Uwe, Dingwell, Donald B and Hand, Russell J (2022) Using obsidian in glass art practice. Volcanica Journal, 5 (1). pp. 183-207. ISSN 2610-3540
Watkinson, Cate, Rennie, Colin, Wadsworth, Fabian and Llewellin, Edward (2019) In Vulcan's Forge. Nature Geoscience, 12 (2-3). ISSN 1752-0908
Watkinson, Cate, Gasper, Giles and McLeish, Tom (2018) Medieval concepts of colour turned into glass artwork in new exhibition. The Independent Online.
Barclay, Melissa (2011) Urban Renewal in Newcastle : Profile of Watkinson Glass Associates. Stained Glass Quarterly of America, 106 (2). pp. 124-131. ISSN 1067-8867
Book Section
Watkinson, Cate, Joanne, Mitchell and Colin, Rennie (2024) Waterjet and Creative Innovation in Higher Education. In: The History of Waterjet Technology – from raw cutting to precision machining. Jenny Stanford Publishing, USA. (Submitted)
Livingstone, Andrew, Petrie, Kevin, Sarmiento, Jeffrey and Watkinson, Cate (2015) Real World Student Experience at Masters level in Art and Design: Case Studies from Glass and Ceramics. In: Masters Level Teaching, Learning and Assessment: Issues in Design and Delivery. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137399366
Watkinson, Cate (2012) Urban Landscape Furniture. In: Urban Landscape Furniture. Hi Design Publications, Hong Kong. ISBN 978-988-19707-0-1
Reports, briefing/ working papers
Watkinson, Cate (2015) Fellow of Higher Education Academy Claim. Documentation. UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)
Conference or Workshop Item
Watkinson, Cate and Rennie, Colin (2019) Grosseteste in Glass. ‘Colour is light in a diaphanous medium’ (Gross d.1253). In: Napa Light Festival, 19 Jan 2019, Napa, CA, USA.
Watkinson, Cate (2018) ‘Illuminating Colour’ Grosseteste in Glass Part 1. In: Science Illumination and Wonder, 3-6 Apr 2018, Pembroke College Oxford. (Unpublished)
Watkinson, Cate (2017) Invited to chair session and speak as one of a panel of stained glass experts at the conference. In: ‘In glass thy story’: a symposium addressing over 70 years of innovation and iconography in the glass art of British and European churches and cathedrals., 8 Sep 2017 - 9 Sep 2018, Robinson College Cambridge. (Unpublished)
Watkinson, Cate (2015) Cate Watkinson: Contributions to the field of architectural glass. In: Glass Reflections: Glass in the Year of Light, 7-9th Sep 2015, Cambridge University, Murray Edwards College. (Unpublished)
Watkinson, Cate and Welford, Rachel (2014) The Ephemeral in Glass Artworks. In: GlassAC 2014 Glass Science in Art and Conservation, 10-12 Sep 2014, Durham University. (Unpublished)
Watkinson, Cate (2011) Innovations in Architectural Glass. In: Parallels and Connections, 5-6 April 2011, National Glass Centre Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Watkinson, Cate Architectural Glass in the UK and my own practice. In: American Glass Guild Annual Conference, 18-21 Jun 2015, Washington DC USA. (Unpublished)
Thesis
Watkinson, Cate (2013) The Changing Nature of Architectural Glass A narrative of one artist’s commissioned works realised between 1990 and 2012 in the North East of England. Doctoral thesis, University of Sunderland.
Artefact
Watkinson, Cate (2018) Stained glass window for St Mary's Parish Church, Whickham, Gateshead. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2018) Colour Columns. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate and Rennie, Colin (2016) 'Off the Grid' Silverlink Point. [Artefact]
Rennie, Colin and Watkinson, Cate (2016) "off the grid" silverlink point. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate and Cutler, Vanessa (2016) 'Tall Trees' screen printed glass sculpture designed and made in collaboration with Dr Vanessa Cutler. [Artefact]
Rennie, Colin and Watkinson, Cate (2015) Helping hands [Sculpture]. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2015) Brenda Bullock Memorial window St Mary's Church Holywell, Northumberland. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate and Rennie, Colin (2015) 'Helping Hands' sculpture. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2013) ‘Warp and Weft’ commission Holy Trinity, Leeds City Centre. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2012) New Hartley Pit Disaster Memorial Stained Glass Windows. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2011) Total Policing Northumbria Police Head Quarters North Tyneside. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2011) Total Policing. A site-specific sculpture commission. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2010) Solar Cell Seating, St Peter’s Campus, University of Sunderland. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2009) Lady Chapel Windows, St Mary’s Parish Church, Whickham, Gateshead. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate and Cutler, Vanessa (2009) Public Seating, Baltic Butterfly Business Quarter Gateshead. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2008) Tower and Welcome Centre, Trinity Church Gosforth, Newcastle. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2008) Decorative Glazing Scheme, St Clare's Convent, Clay Cross Chesterfield. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2008) Glass and Steel Sculptural Piece. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2004) Memorial stained glass window. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2004) Look Out. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate (2002) Time To..., Lime Square, Newcastle Quayside. [Artefact]
Watkinson, Cate Glazing Scheme for St Paul's Church, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland. [Artefact]
Show/Exhibition
Watkinson, Cate and Rennie, Colin (2018) Embodied Light Exhibition. Pembroke College JCR Art Gallery, 3 Apr-15 Jun 2018, Oxford, UK.
Rennie, Colin and Watkinson, Cate (2017) ‘Illuminating Colour’ exhibition with Colin Rennie at the main gallery of the National Glass Centre, Sunderland. Illuminating Colour, 21 Oct 2017 - 11 Mar 2018, National Glass Centre Sunderland.
Watkinson, Cate (2013) The Changing Nature of Architectural Glass A narrative of one artist’s commissioned works realised between 1990 and 2012 in the North East of England. The Changing Nature of Architectural Glass, September to November 2013, National Glass Centre Sunderland.
Watkinson, Cate (2013) 'Glass and Clay' Exhibition Washington DC 2013. 'Glass and Clay', 1 Mar - 31 Mar 2013, Washington DC.
Watkinson, Cate (2013) New Glass and Ceramic Art Pavilion. March 2013, New Town Central Park, 2238 West Yan'an Rd, Shanghai, China.
Watkinson, Cate (2013) Developments in Architectural Glass-Photographs and design drawings of Cate Watkinson's architectural glass. Developments in Architectural Glass, 16 Sep - 6 Oct 2013, National Glass centre, University of Sunderland.
Watkinson, Cate (2013) Solar Cell Seating. A site-specific glass and technology work. Contemporary glass public art sculpture and street furniture in the urban environment, 2009-2013, Portsmouth, Leeds, North Tyneside, Sunderland, Gateshead.
Watkinson, Cate and Winter, Joe (2012) 'A History of Light' A collaboration with Joe Winter. AV Festival 12: As Slow as Possible; 5th biennial International Festival of Art, Technology, Music and Film, 1-31 March 2012, National Glass Centre.
Watkinson, Cate (2012) Ecclesiastical works from 2008-2012. Ecclesiastical works from 2008-12, 2008-2012, St Clare’s Convent Chesterfield; Holy Trinity Church, Gosforth Newcastle; St Mary’s Parish Church, Whickham, Gateshead; St Paul’s Seaton Sluice, Northumberland; St Alban’s Earsdon, North Tyneside; St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle; St Peter’s, Wearmouth.
Watkinson, Cate and Cahill, Clinton (2012) Textile I & II, Curve with Steels. Three glass and steel sculptures. Pairings, 2010 - 2012, Manchester Metropolitan University, Sedbergh, Sleaford, Chichester, Kendal, Cardiff, Swansea.
Watkinson, Cate (2009) Artomatic Washington DC. Artomatic 2009, May 29 –July 5 2009., Capitol Riverfront Washington DC.
Watkinson, Cate (2005) Interior and Domestic settings created entirely in Glass. , Artonivo, Bruges, Belgium..
Watkinson, Cate Glass 3. Feb-March 2008, Georgetown, Washington DC.
Watkinson, Cate and Rennie, Colin 'Illuminating Colour'exhibition of glass art works. Illuminating Colour, October 2017 to March 2018, National Glass Centre Sunderland.
Watkinson, Cate Showcase British Embassy, Dubai. Showcase, Nov 2007, British Embassy, Dubai.
Other
Watkinson, Cate (2024) Restoration and repair of stained glass artworks in Monkseaton Metro station. Nexus, UK.
Watkinson, Cate (2018) Colour Columns: Grosseteste in Glass [Research portfolio]. Artefacts inspired by the Ordered Universe Project.
Watkinson, Cate, Gasper, Giles and McLeish, Tom (2018) Medieval concepts of colour turned into glass artwork in new exhibition. The Conversation Trust.
Watkinson, Cate, Rennie, Colin and Gasper, Giles (2016) Through a Glass Darkly project Reading of texts at Seminars/workshops/demonstrations leading to production of experimental artworks. UNSPECIFIED.
Watkinson, Cate (2016) Invited as stained glass specialist and selection panel member for new window for the North Quire Aisle of Durham Cathedral. UNSPECIFIED.
- Architectural glass in all its forms
- Public art sculpture
- Professional practice
- Consultancy: historical and contemporary stained glass
- Sustainability agenda
I am a member of several committees outside of the University including the Historic Churches Committee for Hexham and Newcastle Diocese.
