From Prague exile to glass pioneer: Peter Layton’s creative journey
This preview, based only on the episode notes, sketches Peter Layton’s path from a 1939 escape from Prague to founding London Glassblowing. It points to a conversation about artistic influence, collaboration, and the music and book choices that help frame his life.
This is a preview based on the published show notes, not a recap of the full audio conversation. If you’re curious about artists who helped redefine a medium, this episode looks especially promising. Peter Layton is introduced here as a pioneering British glass artist and founder of London Glassblowing, a studio and gallery described as highly influential in the UK. The notes suggest the episode may trace how he helped establish glass as a serious artistic medium, while also reflecting on the collaborative ethos that has shaped his studio for five decades. The biographical arc alone gives this episode weight. Layton was born in Prague to Jewish parents, escaped with his family in 1939, and later grew up in Bradford, where David Hockney was among his friends. The notes also point to a turning point in the 1960s: a trip to the United States to teach ceramics led to his first encounter with glassblowing, which ultimately inspired him to build London Glassblowing back in the UK. There are also hints at what drives his work. His early pieces engaged with political issues, while clouds, pebbles, and other natural forms remain key inspirations. As with any Desert Island Discs episode, the castaway selections add another layer, ranging from George Formby and Dave Brubeck to Nina Simone and Ludovico Einaudi. His book choice, *The Choice* by Edith Eger, may also appeal to listeners interested in resilience, memory, and survival. This looks like a strong pick for listeners interested in postwar lives, British art, creative communities, and how a craft becomes an art form.
About this episode
<p>Peter Layton is a pioneering British glass artist and the founder of London Glassblowing, one of the most influential glass studios and galleries in the United Kingdom. He played a central role in the development of the studio glass movement, helping to establish glass as an artistic medium.</p><p>Born in Prague to Jewish parents, he and his family escaped in 1939 and settled in Bradford, where Peter counted the artist David Hockney among his friends. A trip to the United States in the 1960s to teach ceramics led him to his first encounter with glassblowing, and when he returned to the UK he set up a studio called London Glassblowing. Its ethos of collaboration and openness remains the same 50 years after its founding, and members of the public are welcome to see Peter and his colleagues create spectacular pieces of art out of glass.</p><p>Peter’s work is influenced by many things: early pieces tackled political issues, and he finds clouds, pebbles and other natural forms particularly inspiring. Peter lives in London with his wife Ann. He has three children and seven grandchildren.</p><p>DISC ONE: When I’m Cleaning Windows - George Formby DISC TWO: Kol Nidrei, Op. 4, composed by Max Bruch, performed by Jacqueline du Pré (cello) and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim DISC THREE: Take Five - Dave Brubeck DISC FOUR: Blowin’ in the Wind - Bob Dylan DISC FIVE: White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane DISC SIX: Lute Concerto in D Major, RV 93: II. Largo, composed by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Paul O'Dette (lute) The Parley of Instruments conducted by Peter Holman DISC SEVEN: Suzanne - Nina Simone DISC EIGHT: Elegy for the Arctic - Ludovico Einaudi</p><p>BOOK CHOICE: The Choice by Edith Eger LUXURY ITEM: A solar-powered digital picture frame CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Suzanne - Nina Simone </p><p>Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Tim Bano</p><p>Desert Island Discs has cast away many artists to the island over the years, including Peter’s friend David Hockney, as well as the sculptor Anthony Gormley and Cornelia Parker. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.</p>