Naylor, Tony
Anthony John Naylor, known to his friends and work colleagues as Tony, was born in Yardley, Birmingham, in October 1940.
He attended Corpus Christi primary school in Yardley and Erdington Abbey Secondary Modern School in Erdington. He was, by his own admission, an average student who did not enjoy his time at either.
He left school at 15 for a six-year apprenticeship in commercial art at Siviter Smith: Artists, Designers and Engravers, in Birmingham. This was followed by some time working as a commercial artist at Cadbury’s, the chocolate manufacturers in Bournville.
Looking for a change in direction, in 1964 he took a job at John Hardman & Co., a world-leading stained glass studio. Here Tony worked mainly in modern glass applications including slab glass (dalle de verre).
Devastatingly, a massive fire at Hardman’s in 1970 damaged the whole building. Although nobody was injured in the fire, it obviously had an impact on everyone working there. Tony left in 1971 for better paid but less creative work. During these years, his focus was mainly on establishing a stable home. He had married Janet in 1964 and by now they had three daughters – Rachel, Lia and Ester.
During the 1970s he met a stained glass artist called Claude Price who rekindled his enjoyment of stained glass and taught him more about the trade. Claude told Tony there was a gap in the market for someone doing glass repairs and restoration. In 1979 Tony took a leap of faith and went self-employed as a stained glass artist, working from home. For a few years he worked collaboratively with Clive Sinclair of Norgrove Studios.
Throughout his career he took on many commissions, designing, making and installing them all. He was also called upon to do much restoration work, some of which was for Birmingham Museum.
Tony worked as a stained glass artist for over 50 years and is now retired. He still lives in Birmingham with his wife, Janet.
Notes by Rachel Kevern