Tom Rowney began his glassmaking career at the Budgeree Glass Factory in Port Adelaide, South Australia with a traineeship with Australian glass artist, Nick Mount. Tom then received an undergraduate degree from the Australian National University, School of Art, in 1996. From 1996 to 1999, Rowney worked as a glass artist and hot glass assistant at the Denizen Glass Studio in Manly and went on to work at the Edols & Elliott Workshop at Brookvale in Sydney’s north until 2006. He is currently employed at the Canberra Glassworks as the Technical Manager, as well as teaching part-time and continuing with his practice as a professional artist.
Tom has enjoyed teaching at a variety of international schools for many years, including:
- ANU, School of Art
- JAM Factory Craft and Design Centre (Adelaide)
- Vetroricerca Glas
- Modern (Bolzano, Italy)
- Eugene Glass School in Oregon, USA,
- Creative Glass (Zurich, Switzerland)
- North Lands Creative Glass (Lybster, Scotland)
- Pilchuck Glass School (USA)
Tom is passionate about Venetian style glass working techniques. Utilizing these techniques from a contemporary viewpoint, with the combination of precision and accuracy to create a precise piece of glass is something he aims for in his work.
Since 1997 his work has featured in exhibitions in Australia and overseas.
