Three glass artists from across the world have been honoured in the Warm Glass UK Glass Prize 2012 after a record number of entries.

Leading glass art suppliers Warm Glass UK, based in Wrington, North Somerset, held the awards with categories for 'Bullseye Glass', 'Students' and 'Artists'.

The winner of the 'Bullseye Glass' prize 2012 is Linda Norris, a relative newcomer to glass art, but who impressed the judges so much she was awarded the $2,000 prize, to be put towards the cost of a nine-day symposium for international artists.

Linda’s piece 'Her House is Air' is an exploration of the interaction between birds and landscape. She said: "I am absolutely delighted to have won the Warm Glass Bullseye prize. Having been an artist for 30 years, I am a relative newcomer to glass and winning the prize gives me a lot of encouragement for my work in this new and technically complex medium. I am very excited to be attending the international symposium at Northlands with Jane Bruce, one of the world’s leading glass artists."

Highly commended in the 'Bullseye Glass' Category prize were Kathryn Wightman for 'Curious', and Scottish glass artist Rachel Elliott for her piece 'Fragile Entomology (Quiet)' which replicates an original frame with honeycomb on both sides in kiln formed glass powder.

The 'Artists' prize was open to all glass artists regardless of experience and was judged by Amanda Simmons, a renowned glass artist. Amanda decided that Evelyn Dunstan’s 'Matikao (buds) Promise' piece was the best of the 87 entries, winning her £500 worth of Warm Glass UK’s best selling glass products. 

Evelyn Dunstan is based in New Zealand but her work is sold internationally. She said: "I’m honoured as there were some really interesting and lovely entries that are just as deserving. My thanks to Warm Glass UK for organising and sponsoring the competition as well as supplying a wonderful prize."

Highly Commended in the Artists Category were Gonny Van Hulst for 'Claustro-Phobia,' and Edinburgh based Alan Horsley for 'The Critique Of Pure Reason.'

The final category was the 'Students' group ,which is voted for by the public and was won by Kasia Laganowska with her piece 'Battenberg Platter'. 

Kasia’s prize is £300 to be spent on education at the Warm Glass UK studio. With classes throughout the year on techniques such as screen printing on glass, beadmaking, glass casting and mouldmaking and images in jewellery, Warm Glass UK has established itself as an expert in glass art courses as well as a leading materials supplier.

Pippa Bluck, Warm Glass UK director said: "The standard of this year’s entries has been amazing and with over 200 entries across the three categories the judges really had their work cut out choosing winners."

"This is the eighth year we have run the competition and it seems to grow and grow all the time. It has become an esteemed award within the industry and we’re really proud to be able to offer a platform for the artists who enter."

"Linda, Evelyn and Kasia all created fantastic work and we hope they enjoy their prizes."

Find out more about the Warm Glass Prize 2012 http://www.warmglassprize.com/