Helen Whittaker, Paradise window (2014), Church of St Brandon, Brancepeth, Co Durham.

Photo: Barley Studio Ltd

Church of St Brandon, Brancepeth, County Durham

Address

Church of St Brandon, Brancepeth, County Durham DH7 8DF

Theme

Overview

There are a number of artists who have contributed to this website through their individual selections of 10 fine examples of British stained glass. While all naturally refrained from recommending their own work in the 10 selected, they have been asked to choose a window of their own that they feel reflects their personal work. This is Helen Whittaker’s selection.

Highlight

East window - the ‘Paradise Window’

Artist, maker and date

Reason for highlighting

The ‘Paradise Window’ remains one of my favourite commissions. My bold design depicting the native flowers of the Canary Islands is a symbolic celebration of St Brandon’s voyage to far-off lands in search of the Garden of Eden.

My design reconciles the competing views of parishioners, some of whom wanted to create a focal point for worship while others wished to maintain a view of the landscape beyond the window. The window sits well in its modern architectural setting, creating the illusion of an intricate stone fretwork through which the viewer is offered a glimpse of the Garden of Eden.

The ‘Paradise Window’ is striking, colourful, simple but symbolic and layered with meaning. It provides a focus for spiritual reflection and devotion, while also being accessible to all who enter the church. Combining traditional techniques with a contemporary approach, I hope that it will prove to be timeless.

Artist/maker notes

Helen Whittaker MBE FMGP is a renowned artist and designer, highly regarded for her new stained glass windows and architectural sculpture in glass and copper.

Helen studied art and design at both the University of Sunderland and the Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture, London, in both cases specialising in stained glass. For over 25 years since then Helen has been creating new stained glass to commission and overseeing restoration painting for a wide variety of stained glass conservation projects, latterly as the creative director of the highly acclaimed Barley Studio in York, heading the multi-skilled team alongside founder Keith Barley MBE.

Helen’s aim is to engage the viewer through good design and craftsmanship, creating energy and movement intertwining contemporary and traditional elements. Her designs are inspired by the client, the brief and the building, whether housed in historic or modern buildings, in ecclesiastical or secular contexts.

Helen Whittaker was been awarded an MBE for “services to the creation and conservation of stained and architectural glass art” in the King’s Birthday Honours in 2024.

Source: Barley Studio website

Barley Studio was established by Keith Barley MBE in 1973, and has an international reputation for excellence in stained glass creation and conservation for cathedrals, stately homes, parish churches and prestigious secular buildings across the UK and beyond.