Nick and his wife, Tamasin, built Tsuga Studios in 2000, creating a space to explore and develop new techniques and design ideas

On Making Glass

"For me glassblowing has become a process of taking this super hot liquid and freezing it to room temperature in a controlled but sometimes precarious balancing act of heat, gravity, timing and human intervention in these processes. I find glass most beautiful when worked in such a way that somehow captures and eventually expresses this fluidity as a material while maximizing its unique relationship with light and color. While being decorative, most of my work is also functional. I’ve often felt most satisfied making things that are both beautiful and useful. Growing up during the early studio Art Glass movement in America, I was surrounded by hand-made objects and people who worked hard at developing their craft, people using raw, natural materials and great effort to bring their creative ideas to life. These objects are not only important as expressions of who we are but there’s great importance in experiencing the creative process that brings them to life. Making things allows us to explore our own ideas of who we are as both individuals and a culture, how we got here, where do we want to go. Spending time making things that are either beautiful or useful, encourages us to reach into some of what makes us most human. There is greatness in the life of ideas and creativity these processes can generate. It is in this tradition that I believe making, using and appreciating these glass objects brings a richness to our lives that is both unique and precious."