AN eco-minded Wordsley glass artist who has created the first all-electric hot glass studio in the UK has won a top award for his efforts to become more environmentally sustainable.

Allister Malcolm, resident glass artist at Stourbridge Glass Museum, won the Environmental Sustainabilty Award at the 2024 Heritage Crafts Awards on Tuesday.

The Environmental Sustainability Awards, in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, aim to highlight craftspeople in the UK who have gone above and beyond to become measurably more sustainable in their practice.

The recipients had to demonstrate a steadfast commitment to sustainability by implementing practical initiatives that reduce waste, conserve resources, and mitigate environmental harm over time.

Glass artist Allister Malcolm, right, and artist Rachael Colley, left, were both awarded Environmental Sustainabilty AwardsGlass artist Allister Malcolm, right, and artist Rachael Colley, left, were both awarded Environmental Sustainabilty Awards (Image: Handout) As the energy crisis hit - Allister, who runs his Allister Malcolm Glass Ltd glass art business from the new museum in Camp Hill, saw his bills skyrocket from £12,500 to £36,000 and by the time he decided he had to turn the gas off they were climbing towards £85,000 a year - an eyewatering amount that he feared could put him out of business.

This prompted some creative thinking and resulted in him replacing all of the gas equipment in his studio with electric and he now has the first all-electric hot glass studio in the UK.

He said: “We are no longer reliant on fossil fuels.”

In May he also signed a deal to buy 100 per cent renewable energy vastly reducing our carbon footprint – adding: “Stourbridge Glass Museum supported us in our determination to do better.”

He has also installed solar panels, thanks to support from Arts Council England, to “help us take responsibility for some of the energy we consume” and he added: “We are continuing with improvements to our working practices but believe we are now leading the way and showcasing the potential future of glassmaking in a more environmentally sustainable way.”

Yorkshire-born Allister was presented with the award, a partnership between Heritage Crafts and the Queen Elizabeth Trust, at a winners’ reception hosted by English Heritage at Eltham Palace.

He said afterwards: “I was so honoured to be in the room with many talented crafts people from so many disciplines.

“I’d like to thank Heritage Crafts and the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust for the award. I’d also like to thank everyone around us who has offered support over the last few years particularly those that work closely around me at Stourbridge Glass Museum. It would have been so easy to give in without support and encouragement.

“We are in the process of making even more improvements in the studio. This award has helped fuel my determination to do the best we can for the environment whilst producing original works of art. I’m excited about our future.”

He's also hopeful the developments initiated at Stourbridge Glass Museum will inspire changes across the glass industry.

Artist, jeweller and metalworker Rachael Colley, from Sheffield, was also winner of the same accolade, which included £1,000 prize money for each winner.