• Who are you?

My name is Charlott Rodgers and I originally come from a place called Stuttgart in the South-West of Germany. I originally came over here in 1998 to study classical singing at the RSC (then RSAMD) but fell in love with the country and the people and never left.

• What does your business do?

The Beekeeper’s Daughter is a contemporary glass design business that manufactures and designs bespoke, unusual, one off or small edition kiln formed glass. The glass is designed and produced after working closely with the clients; architects, interior designers or directly for and with a private client.

Textile patterns and designs get embedded in a unique and innovative way directly into the glass during the production stage allowing multilayered effects and vistas.

Applications for the glass are almost unlimited from fused windows, tiles or big commercial units to elegant contemporary lighting solutions.

The Beekeeper’s Daughter is… Simple, understated beauty – translucent clarity in form and design

• Where are you based?

I am based at the WASP studios at 77 Hanson Street, Dennistoun. I share a studio with other glass artists, which allows me access to vital equipment such as kilns and cold working facilities and keeps the cost down. There is a friendly and helpful atmosphere in the studio, which makes it fun to work there.

• How did you get started?

I have always made things as long as I can remember. As a child, we would press leaves and make collages, collect conkers and make animals from them. I decided to go back to college in my early-30s and enrolled on an HNC in Applied Arts at City of Glasgow College. The course entailed time in the glass studio and I fell in love with the glass.

• What is your background

I have a background in music (BA Music) and am also a trained and practicing Iyengar Yoga Teacher. I have an HNC in Applied Arts, and a HND both in Jewellery Design and in Art Glass Design/Art Glass Production.

• What is your top tip?

Build up a support network of people that are honest but supportive. Grow a thick skin, be enthusiastic and love what you do. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be courteous, polite and respectful of other people and their work.

• Has anyone helped you get started and how?

I am on this year’s ‘Starter For Six’ program, which is a mentoring program from Scottish Enterprise with potential to pitch for start-up funding at the end of it. I was also very fortunate to be one of the artists selected for a program called ‘Talent Incubator’, which is organised by Craft Town Scotland (West Kilbride) and funded by Creative Scotland.

• What was your biggest mistake/or what would you do differently?

If I had realised earlier that I wanted to run my own glass business, I would have gone to more networking events and would have tried to get an internship with someone in the industry.

• Who was/is your mentor/or inspiration?

My dad – the beekeeper! – is a great inspiration to me, as he has run his own business for the past 35 years. My mum has taught me to see things with an artistic eye and to believe in myself whatever I do.

Then there are two very different but equally inspiring women who I admire and am inspired by: Liz Gaffney of ‘Heartfelt by Liz’, who designs and makes the most exquisite felt creations, and Fiona Ferguson, my HNC Applied Arts tutor, who encouraged me to pursue my artistic ambitions.

• Where do you plan your business to be in five years’ time?

I plan to be exhibiting at trade fairs internationally within the next five years and want to expand my product range and services.

• Useful contacts

Starter For Six (www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk)

Craft Town Scotland (www.crafttownscotland.org)

• Contact Details

Charlott Rodgers, studio 010, Wasp Studios, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow, G31 2HF.

www.thebeekeepersdaughter.uk