Robin Henderson

Thesis

Breaking the Slab Glass Mould: Women Stained Glass Artists in the Arts & Crafts (1889-1939)

Supervisor: Sarah Brown

Research interests

The Arts & Crafts movement is foundational to the craft of modern stained-glass. It radically reshaped how the craft is practised, transforming its creation from “production-line” large industrial workshops, to the small studios and individual artists that are prevalent today. It also stylistically encouraged a focus on glass texture, visible brush marks and graphic lead lines - aesthetics which remain important influences on works made today.

In addition to stylistic changes, the Arts & Crafts movement resulted in an unprecedented number of women artists taking up the medium of stained-glass, many of whom became well known artists in their own right. Prior scholarship has focused on individual biographies of exceptional women, however no systematic overview of the experiences of women stained-glass artists in the period has yet been attempted. This project aims to fill that gap, considering the broad network of women artists in the field and how issues surrounding gender, education, class, interpersonal relationships, politics and nationality affected their lives and careers. Stained-glass is a monumental medium which is almost impossible to produce in a domestic space, due to the specialised set-up required for glazing tables, light easels, kilns and panel storage. Thinking about my research through a feminist lens will therefore also allow me to unpack gendered conceptions of the workspace and the domestic, and how this manifested uniquely in the medium of stained-glass. 

Based largely on archival research, the project also aims to improve the digital accessibility of stained-glass research, through the creation of a digital gazetteer of Arts & Crafts practitioners, which will allow for the visualization of artistic connections between individuals and organisations and provide a useful springboard for future research. It also opens up the possibility of using network-mapping methodologies to analyse the careers of women stained-glass artists associated with the Arts & Crafts between 1889 and 1939, using this data to paint a nuanced portrait of gender dynamics within the movement and medium.

Papers & Publications

Published Works:

• “Queering Morris.” Published by the York Historian, 21 June 2026, online.  Winner of the 2026 LGBT+ History Writing Competition.
• “A Review of the Stained Glass Group’s ‘Removed, Remodelled, Relocated’ Conference.” Published in Iconnect, Winter 2025/26, pg. 46.

Public Speaking:

• “Glassmaking for Arts & Crafts Stained Glass.” Talk given for MA Stained Glass Study Day, 21 March 2026. 

Conferences:

• “Data, Damage, and Decision-Making: The Next Era of Stained Glass Conservation” Annual Conference of the Icon Stained Glass Group, York, 10-11th October 2026. Conference Organiser and Session Host.
• “Removed, Remodelled, Relocated: The movement of stained glass from its original setting to places new.” Annual Conference of the Icon Stained Glass Group, Canterbury, 3-4th October 2025. Conference Organiser.

External activities

As a stained glass conservator, I continue to be involved in the field, through freelance work supporting the York Glaziers Trust. I am also the current vice-chair of the Icon Stained Glass Group Committee, a group which supports and advocates for the stained glass conservation community.  My current research project is generously supported by the Wolfson Foundation. I am also grateful to the York Consortium for Craft and Conservation, the Anna Plowden and Zibby Garnett Trust for supporting my professional development as a conservator.  I also practise my own art and have been exhibited in the 2026 Harley Open.