John Ditchfield was born in Blackpool and founded his celebrated Glass studio called Glasform in 1982 at Pointer House Farm in Singleton, a village near Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire. His creations—renowned for their vibrant colours, iridescent finishes, and Art Nouveau elegance—earned international acclaim, gracing the shelves of prestigious stores around the world. After more than half a century at the furnace, he retired in June 2025, when Glasform closed its doors for the final time.
Ditchfield’s journey began in the 1960s in Blackpool, where, at just sixteen, he apprenticed at the Venetian Glass Company. Under the guidance of Italian maestro Franco Toffolo, he absorbed the traditional techniques of Venetian glassblowing, from the simplest forms to the most intricate designs. Eager to expand his horizons, he later travelled across Europe, working with established glass artists in Holland, Germany, and Switzerland. It was during these years that he encountered the shimmering iridescence of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Art Nouveau glass, a discovery that would shape his own distinctive style.
Returning home in 1982, Ditchfield, alongside partner Donald Sidebottom who founded Glasdon UK, opened a modest workshop that soon blossomed into Glasform—an internationally respected studio producing vases, paperweights, lighting, and sculpture. Their work found its way to Harrods, Liberty, and Neiman Marcus, cementing the studio’s global reputation.Among Ditchfield’s most ambitious projects was The Dreamkeeper, a thirty-foot illuminated sculpture created for Glasform’s 25th anniversary. Composed of more than 4,000 individual glass units, the landmark shone like a beacon in the Lancashire landscape. Other commissions, both public and private, followed—many destined for the collections of celebrities and discerning art lovers. Despite its international reach, Glasform remained a family-run venture, with Ditchfield’s wife Karen and a small team of artisans working by his side.
In early 2025, after fifty-seven years of dedication to his craft, Ditchfield announced his retirement. The closure of Glasform marked the end of an era, yet his legacy endures. Today, his works are prized by collectors worldwide—each piece a testament to the brilliance of a Blackpool apprentice who became a master.
Images by © Glasform UK
