Dr Shelley Doolan BA(1st) Hons; PhD

Co-ordinator of the Arts and Humanities Entrepreneurship Hubs (AHEH) project, a three-year 14-partner Europe-wide project co-funded under the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

Project Manager of the Assistive Technologies Innovation Centre (ATiC).

Researcher on the Catalyst Project.

Research in design and applied arts, development of research clusters, partnerships and proposals. 

Post-graduate research supervision. Lecturer Glass and Design Crafts.

As a glass artist Shelley has exhibited nationally and internationally and has work in private and public collections. Shelley was awarded the prestigious Glass Sellers Award at the British Glass Biennale in 2010.

In 2008, with Arts Council funding, Shelley carried out a pilot project to investigate the potential for CAD and CAM processes within her practice.  This initial investigation led to PhD study at UWTSD to further develop this research, with completion in 2014.

The PhD focused on developing a model of practice for the synthesis of CAD and CAM processes with a traditional craft practice.

• Contemporary Glass Society

Shelley has worked as a sessional lecturer within the glass departments of the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham; and at UWTSD, Swansea.  Most recently she has provided instruction to Fine Art students at UWTSD on lost-wax glass casting.  

Teaching experience covers all aspects of modelling, mould-making and kiln-casting glass.  In addition Shelley has taught 3D CAD for craft-practitioners using Rhino3D software.

Shelley’s research has at its core her own glass-making practice.  Over-arching interests include the interaction of glass and light and the way in which form and finish delineate space and mediate our experience. 

Most recently research has focused on the role of ‘technology’ within craft practice.  The research interest lies in developing an approach that makes appropriate and sensitive use of ‘technology’ to expand rather than displace existing skills.  Evolving research outcomes are investigated through practice and collaborative case-studies and are supported by an experimental approach. 

The work explores the potential for CAD and CAM tools and ways in which the skills associated with their use may become embedded within the craft practitioner’s repertoire. 

Shelley is currently developing the research beyond her own practice and the medium of glass; and finding routes to apply and adapt findings within educational and industrial contexts.  

Full research profile

• Lost-wax and kiln-casting glass
• Glass fusing and slumping
• Cold-working and finishing glass
• Slip-casting / mould-making
• 3D CAD for applied arts application
• Waterjet cutting
• Research
• Design
• Conference organising

Welsh Government funded Smart Partnership in collaboration with School of Built Environment. Co-supervising collaborative research project with industry partner.

Shelley’s previous role within the Institute of Sustainable Design (ISD) included providing technical and design advice to industry partners from a diverse range of sectors.  Collaborative research and development projects enabled her to establish longer-term collaborative relationships with companies and to deliver a number of project targets.

Publications

• Doolan, S., Oseng-Rees, T.; Ferriz-Papi, J. 2016, An investigation into the effect upon flexural strength of different methods of cutting float glass and sintered recycled container glass, 23^rd International Conference on Water Jetting, BHR Group, Cranfield 
• Doolan,S., Cutler, V & Johnson, O.  2014, The synthesis of waterjet cutting with ‘hot-glass’ for the creation of murrini,  22^nd International Conference on Water Jetting, BHR Group, Cranfield  
• Doolan,S., 2012, The development of strategies for working with three-dimensional glass forms using two-dimensional waterjet cutting, 21st International Conference on Water Jetting, BHR Group, Cranfield.
• Doolan, S., V. Cutler, 2010, Controlled-depth surface-abrasion for parquetry in glass, 20^th International Conference on Water Jetting, BHR Group, Cranfield 

Featured in:

Books:

• "New Technologies in Glass", Vanessa Cutler, A & C Black Ltd (Sept 2012)
• "Mould Making for Glass", Angela Thwaites, A & C Black Ltd (2011)

Exhibition catalogues:

• European Glass in Context Exhibition Catalogue, Bornholm Art Museum, Denmark (2012)
• "British Glass Biennale 2012" Exhibition Catalogue (2012)
• Images used by Bullseye Glass Co. in their print advertisements (2010)
• LabCraft – Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft, Craft Council Exhibition Catalogue (2010)
• "British Glass Biennale 2010" Exhibition Catalogue (2010)
• "British Glass Biennale 2008" Exhibition Catalogue (2008)

Professional journals:

• “International Festival of Glass” (Review of exhibition) Craft Arts International #86 pp. 92-94 (2012)
• “International Festival of Glass” (Review of exhibition) Craft Arts International #80 pp. 87-89 (2010)
• “Remarkable Glass”; Craft Arts International #80 pp. 91-97 (2010)

Conference

Presented at:

• Society of Glass Technologists Annual Conference in 2016
• Glass Research Conference, UWTSD, 2016
• Society of Glass Technologists annual conference in 2015
• ‘Parallels and Connections’ an international ceramics and glass research conference, in 2011.
• 20th International Conference on Water Jetting in October 2010.
• Society of Glass Technologists annual conference in 2010

Jury-selected Exhibitions (a selection)

• Modern Masters, Galerie Handwerk, Munich.  March 2017.   http://www.hwk-muenchen.de
• Guest Maker, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff.  1 July - 28 August 2016
• ‘Focus on Glass’, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff.   18 July – 6 September 2015
• British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, 23 August - 15 September 2012
• European Glass in Context Exhibition, Bornholm Art Museum, 15 September to 18 November 2012.  (One of two glass makers selected to represent UK)
• Bullseye 'e-merge 2010', Portland, Oregon, USA. 23 March - 19 June 2010 – (awarded 'Popular Prize')
• 'Remarkable Glass', Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery, London 18 June - 17 July 2010
• British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, 26 August - 11 September 2010 – (awarded 'Worshipful Company of Glass Seller's Award')
• 'Lab Craft: Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft', A Crafts Council touring exhibition, opening at Tent London, Old Truman Brewery, London E1 6QL, 23 - 26 September 2010, continuing throughout 2011.
• British Glass Biennale, Stourbridge, August 2008