I was born in 1987 in Surrey and grew up in a small village with my parents and older sister. I have been interested in art since I could pick up a pencil, and drawing and making have always been my strengths.

I studied photography at college, which gave me an eye for colour and composition, and gave me the valuable skill of being able to gather visual inspiration for my work. When I first started at UCA Farnham, studying my Btec National Diploma Foundation course, I was not sure what I wanted to do, until I stumbled across the hot shop one day! Since then have been fascinated by glass and its endless possibilities.

Throughout my three-year degree studying 3D Design Glass, I have experimented with a number of different processes. However, half way through the course, I discovered my passion for hot glass. I love the vibrant colour contrasts that can be created, and the experimental approach of 'what will happen if?' I also love that element of surprise, when I quite often achieve an effect that I wasn't expecting.

My aim is to create pieces that capture elements of my personality. I hope my pieces portray a sense of fun, being a bit quirky, crazy and unexpected, which I think could be said to describe me… small with attitude!

I explore a wide variety of visual inspiration to inform my work. I am particularly inspired by the contrasts in texture and colour from the internal to external surfaces of natural forms. For example, the rough textured exterior of a horse chestnut shell, compared to its silky smooth interior, and the colour and texture on the outside of an agate, in contrast to the layers of vibrant colour found inside. I am also inspired by patterns found in microscopic details, deep-sea life and things that look alien and 'other worldly'.

I aim to create visual tension in my pieces, with textures and colours creating dynamic contrasts within the piece. This visual tension can also be seen in groups of pieces displayed together. The balance of contrasting surfaces and colours is important in my pieces, creating a transition from smooth to rough, from bright to dark, and from patterned to plain.

I try to create pieces that challenge the viewers' perception of the material by using metallic colours and creating effects that would not normally be associated with glass.

The texture, weight and feel to the object is also important, as I hope that my work will be appreciated in a tactile way, as well as being visually stimulating.

Sheri Palmer 2010