Bunton, Kenneth
Kenneth Gordon ‘Ken’ Bunton AMGP (1924-2014) was born in Tokyo and came to England with his family in 1932. In 1941 he inflated his age so he could join the Fleet Air Arm. During the war he demonstrated his artistic talents in comical sketches sent home, prompting a family friend to suggest he should try his hand at stained glass. In 1945 he enrolled in a four year part-time course at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, which he combined with an apprenticeship at A K Nicholson Studio and a period at James Powell & Sons.
From 1952 he worked as a freelance designer for J Wippell & Co in Exeter, before setting up his own studio in his house in Sevenoaks, Kent, in 1961. Although based in England, many of his designs were for churches in New Zealand as a result of a successful partnership with Roy Miller, which was particularly productive in the 1960s. However, there are at least 35 designs for windows in the UK, with perhaps his most important being at Christ Church, Southwark, where he worked in collaboration with Frederick Cole.
Source: Capturing Light – Roy Miller New Zealand Stained Glass Artist by Brian Miller, (Lifelogs, 2016)
Kenneth Bunton and the Worshipful Company of Glaziers
The Worshipful Company of Glaziers was founded in 1328 and remains dedicated to the art and craft of stained glass. In recent times the emphasis has moved from the protection of the personal economic welfare of Glaziers to the preservation of the heritage of stained glass and the support of continuing high standards.
A key part of this work has been the annual competition for young artists, which began in 1932 and which, since 1982, has operated under the banner of the Stevens Competition, the premier competition for stained glass artists in the UK.
Kenneth Bunton won awards in 1947/48 and 1949/50.
