Biography and CV

 

John Reyntiens trained in Fine and Decorative Arts at City and Guilds of London, and then worked with Ray King in Philadelphia, Cedar Prest in Australia, and Graham Jones in London, before setting up his own studio in 1996. In the last 26 years John has lead projects in a range of public and private buildings from the restoration of glass in Windsor Castle following the fire to numerous new church windows, and the Diamond Jubilee window for Her Majesty the Queen in Westminster Hall.

 

Between 2018 and 2022 Reyntiens Glass Studio were responsible for restoring all the glass in Elizabeth Tower, culminating in the new clock faces for Big Ben unveiled in 2022. John brings a passion for glass in all its various forms and a forensic eye for detail to every project he undertakes, whatever the scale, pushing the boundaries of traditional stained glass and contemporary design.

 

John was awarded an MBE in 2022 for his Services to the Arts. In 2023 John appeared as the stained glass Master in Bill Bailey's Master Crafters: The Next Generation, on  Sky Arts, encouraging and mentoring three stained glass artists at the beginning of their career to think out of the box and produce exciting experimental panels.

 

John credits this mixture of art, craft and adventure to his unusual upbringing in Burleighfield House, the arts centre founded by his parents Anne Bruce and Patrick Reyntiens: ‘Between the ages of eight and twelve I was lucky enough to spent a lot of time hanging around with my father’s students, many of whom have become big names in the glass and art industries: Stuart Reed, Doreen Balabanoff, Ray King, Danny Lane, Paul Housberg, and Leifur Breidfjord, and meeting people such as Dale Chihuly, Billy Morris, Richard de Marco, Ludwig Schaffrath, and Narcissus Quagliata; a bunch of inspirational people who framed my journey. I bring that energy and excitement to my practice and enjoy working with a dynamic and talented team of craftspeople and technicians who allow me to realise diverse projects for clients of all types.

 

With a strong grounding in traditional craftsmen’s techniques, John is in his third decade of challenging preconceptions of how glass can be used, experimenting with new technologies as they evolve to produce continually innovative work.  This has been common to both his commission, exhibition and teaching work as well as time spent translating other artists’ work in glass.

 

 

Artistic Commissions:

 

2023      Speakers Residence, Houses of Parliament. The British Family Windows

2022      We See You Panel, as part of work with Glaziers Education Partnership. Southwark Cathedral, London

2022      St John's Church, Kensal Green. Platinum Jubilee commemorative windows.

2020-21 Residential, London. 3 metre curved double glazed dome with sandblasted design.

2020      Residential, London. Two curved glass domes, one stained glass and one sandblasted.

2016      12 Lines of Light, Deauville, Normandy, France. Window Art Piece.

2016      Sculptor Kevin Francis Gray’s Studio, London. Window Art Piece

2016      The Sam Wanamaker Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, London. Stained Glass Panels

2015      15 Lines of Light, London, Residential entrance panel.

2015      Residential, London, Inspire Grid 12 Wall Art Piece.

2014      St Peter's Church, Farmington, Gloucestershire. Michael Mann Memorial Window.

2014      St. Paul’s Church, Mill Hill, The Middlesex Regiment Memorial Window.

2014      Flags of Ilminster, Somerset.

2013      Queens’ College, Cambridge. Backlit glass art features in the entrance.

2013      Pelham Olive, London. Family heraldic shield.

2012      St. Paul’s Church, Mill Hill, The Freedom Window & The Jubilee Window.

2012      Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland, Centenary Window.

2011-12 Westminster Hall, Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee gift from the Houses of Parliament.

2010-11 UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Chapel Windows.

2011      Corinthia Hotel, Whitehall Place, London, Spa reception bevels.

2009      St. Michael’s Church, South Petherton, Somerset.

2008      Corrigan’s, Grosvenor House Hotel, Mayfair, London, interior gilding.

2008      Robert Maxted, Little Venice, London, Glazed entrance.

2007      Clerkenwell House Restaurant, London, LED lit glass panels.

2007      Oadby Gartree High School, Leicester, main façade.

2007      St. Mary’s Church, Ilminster, Somerset.

2006      Bushloe High School, Leicester.

2004      London Contemporary Art, Royal Caribbean, Cruise Ship.

2002      Meteorite wall pieces, Gilded, slumped & stained sculptural works.

2001      Coventry Visitor Centre, Steel and glass mobile.

2000      Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery, Millennium Window.

2000      London Contemporary Art, Royal Caribbean, Cruise Ship.

1999      Versace Haute Couture, Glass Beads for Winter Collection.

1998      Jesus College, Cambridge, Heraldic Window.

1997      Windsor Castle, St. George’s Hall, Octagon Room, Stuart Room.

 

 

Conservation and Restoration:

 

2021       St Marylebone Parish Church, London. Stained glass window restoration. (ongoing)

2018-21  Elizabeth Tower, Houses of Parliament, Clock Dial Restoration.

2020-21  Houses of Parliament, Speakers residence. Bomb film application.

2018-21  Houses of Parliament, Elizabeth Tower Diamond leaded window restoration.

2020       Queen Mary University London, Charterhouse Square. Leaded window restoration.

2016-18  House of Lords, State Officers Court. Stained glass window restoration.

2016       Holy Trinity Brompton, Stained glass window restoration.

2015      House of Lords, Her Majesty’s Robing Room. External glass cleaning and crack gluing.

2014      House of Lords, Her Majesty’s Robing Room. Glass cleaning and crack gluing.

2013       Commonwealth Institute (The Design Museum), Keith New panels restoration.

2013       Westminster Hall, The North Window refurbishment.

2013       Gilling Castle, The Great Chamber Room, Fairfax & Rocliffe Coat of Arms restoration.

1997       Windsor Castle, St. George’s Hall, Octagon Room, Stuart Room.

 

 

 

Glass Translation:

 

2021      Claridge's Hotel, London. Painter's Bar Art Piece, Annie Morris design.

2021      Claridge's Hotel, London. Staircase Skylight, Major British Artist's design.

2015      St Mary’s Church Hambledon, Lord Hambledon memorial, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2009      Harperbury Hospital, Radlett, Herts. Kirsty Brooks design.

2009      St George’s Church, Taunton, Great West Window, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2008      Kate Maestri, Hospital Chapel Windows, Kate Maestri design.

2006-7   Ampleforth Abbey, Six memorial chapel windows, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2006      Frances Bardsley School, Romford, Anniversary Window, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2005      Proto Studios Ltd, Etching & laminating, Martin Donlin design.

2004      Ampleforth Abbey, Two windows, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2004      St. Alban’s Church, Romford, East windows, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2003      St. Mary’s Church, Stoke St. Mary, Somerset, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2003      Ampleforth Abbey, Twenty-seven windows, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2002      St. Alban’s Church, Romford, Baptistery window, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2001     ‘George’ Mark Birley, internal backlit picture window, Patrick Reyntiens design.

2000      398 Bomb Squadron Memorial Window, Anstey, Herts, Patrick Reyntiens design.

1998      Jesus College, Cambridge, Quincentenary Library window, Graham Jones design.

1995      Henry Moore Memorial Window, Much Hadham, Herts, Patrick Reyntiens design.

1995      Westminster Abbey, Poets’ Corner Windows, assistant, Graham Jones design

 

 

 

Exhibitions:

 

2023      Evening Standard Art Prize, London

2022      Royal Academy Summer Show, London

2014      Chelsea Arts Club, London.

2005-7   100% Design, London.

2005      Grand Designs, London.

2004      100% Design, London.

2004      Evolving Light, MONA (Museum of Neon Art), Los Angeles.

2002      Affordable Art Fair, London.

2001-2   The Glassworks, London.

1996      Derix Glass Gallery, Wiesbaden, Germany.

 

 

 

Film/TV:

 

2023      Bill Bailey's Master Crafters: The Next Generation, Sky Arts.

2019      Big Ben: Restoring the World Famous Clock, Channel 4.

2011      Release of film ‘From Coventry to Cochem, the Art of Patrick Reyntiens’

 

 

 

Teaching , Lectures and Workshops:

 

2022      Speaker, American Glass Guild Conference, Corning, USA. (Upcoming)

2021      Judge Stevens Competition, Worshipful company of Glaziers, London.

2019      National Trust Building Surveyors Talk, London.

2018      Worshipful Company of Glaziers Talk, London.

2016      Ely Stained Glass Museum London Lecture, Art Workers’ Guild.

2016      Lecture, Inaugural International Glass Conference, Lamberts, Germany.

2015      Judge Stevens Competition, Worshipful Company of Glaziers, London.

2014      Judge Stevens Competition, Worshipful Company of Glaziers, London.

2012      Judge Stevens Competition, Worshipful Company of Glaziers, London.

2011      Judge Stevens Competition, Worshipful Company of Glaziers, London.

2011      Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, USA (teacher)

2010      Studio Workshops, Reyntiens Glass Studio.

2010      Judge Stevens Competition, Worshipful Company of Glaziers, London.

2007      Richmond Adult Community College, Gilding on Glass.

2007      Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, USA (teacher)

2006      Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, USA (student)

2006      GAS conference demonstration, St Louis, USA.

2005      Artbeat: Allen and Overy sponsored workshops for Bethnal Green Technology College.

2004      Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, USA (teacher)

2002      Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, USA (teaching assistant)

2000      Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery, workshops for Millennium Window.