Sue Donnellan is a glass artist living and working by the sea in the sunny south east of Ireland. Creativity has always been part of her world. Both of her parents were creative souls, and from a very young age her mother gently encouraged her to follow her heart and trust her own path. That early belief in creativity stayed with her and quietly grew into a lifelong dream.

Working with glass feels a little like alchemy. It can be guided, shaped, and designed, but once it goes into the kiln, there is always an element of surprise. That unpredictability is part of the magic. When light finally moves through the finished piece, especially in stained glass, it can transform a space completely. There is something almost spiritual about it.

She truly fell in love with glass after returning from Cambodia, where she spent time teaching English in an orphanage near Angkor Wat. That experience changed her perspective on life and creativity, and not long after, glass found its way into her hands and never really left.

She has always been drawn to the work of Harry Clarke, whose rich colours and storytelling in glass continue to inspire her. His work reminds her how powerful this medium can be.

When she is not in the studio, she can usually be found walking along the beach with her two dogs, her constant companions and best friends. She is happiest surrounded by the rhythm of the sea, new ideas taking shape, and small, thoughtful gestures that brighten an ordinary day.

Some of her happiest times are spent in the studio surrounded by her nieces and nephews, sharing ideas, experimenting, and passing on what she has learned as a self-taught artist. Those moments feel full circle to her, with creativity being shared just as it was once given to her.

At the heart of it all, her work is about connection, between light and glass, between people and place, and between imagination and reality.