The Stained Glass Library & Study Room

Aim

To create a specialist Library & Study room within an existing stained-glass studio.

I began my journey with a degree in Fine Arts (Arts Plastiques) in Paris, an education that combined technical skills with anthropology and philosophy. This deeply influenced my personal style, leading me to understand stained glass as a profound reading of life. After further specialising in Architectural Stained Glass at Swansea and Wrexham, and with 27 years of Self-employed practice, I founded Couleurlive Ltd, establishing my dedicated studio space in Wem, Shropshire, in 2024. 

Picture from 2024, when Nathalie had just moved in; the signage was about to be fitted!

Why this Project is needed

In 2023, Heritage Crafts, designated Stained-Glass Window Making as an endangered practice. 

To help preserve these vital skills, I envision a collaborative space within my Shropshire studio - The Andrew Moor Library & Study Room - that will serve as a haven for future professionals and the wider public, which will house a specialist reference library of around 150 books, which span the many topics within Stained Glass, from the traditional history of stained glass to contemporary creations in the UK and abroad.

Our new location is just a five-minute walk from public transport, making it accessible for students, the community, and the general public. Once established, this space will work alongside my own practice, hosting three regular colleagues as well as traditional stained glass painting courses and workshops.

By supporting this project, you are helping to build a much-needed space.

The idea behind the project

The Library Room was partially conceived in response to the very limited number of stained-glass resource books available in small or medium-sized local libraries.

When I set up my first studio in Shrewsbury, I was curious to see what the local libraries held; the one or two I did manage to find favoured the amateur or hobbyists, which was a disappointment. 

Pictures taken in July at Shrewsbury Library

Since I first visited, the number of books at Shrewsbury Library has improved. 

However, unless an artist is actively looking for books about stained glass, it remains difficult for Fine Arts and Crafts students to increase their knowledge. Since 1998, I have accumulated a vast array of books from my student days to now as a working designer/maker. 

The conservation or creation of Stained glass craft is partially dependent on this current generation of active contemporary studios to welcome, cultivate and nurture the next generation of people interested in the craft. 

With your help, we can safeguard the future of this craft by building a dedicated space.

Shropshire is home to some of the most beautiful historical examples and collections of stained glass, as well as contemporary works, from the Medieval Period up to the present day. 

I have named this space The Andrew Moor Library & Study Room after the author of the first contemporary stained glass book I found in Paris in 1995! It was translated from English and considered a major work (Contemporary Stained Glass, Publisher Mitchell Beazley 1989) to French ( Le Vitrail dans l'architecture contemporaine, Edition Herscher 1990 ).

This book was the catalyst for my move to an exciting area for contemporary stained glass.

The construction brief for the project

I want to ensure a comfortable, year-round temperature for the dedicated study room. The studio is spacious enough to welcome people while I work, providing an inspiring starting point for those curious about entering or perfecting a career in our trade. However, the wider studio space is currently difficult to heat in Winter. I need to build a space which is comfortable year-round.

To solve this, the first stage of the project involves finding an architect or design practitioner who specialises in creating compact, purposeful spaces. 

Your contribution will help get this first crucial stage off the ground. 

Once I have found the professional collaborator to bring the library room to life, I would work with them to survey the area of my studio, using the generous funds raised to create a full architectural plan, which I would share with my supporters via an update.

Part of the architectural design plans will incorporate a Plaque that will list all funders. I will use the supporter list at the end of the Crowdfunder page to gather names. If you wish to stay anonymous, I will share the number of anonymous funders, so you are not forgotten.

The Design brief will be:

• A room woven within the studio
• Comfortable space for all seasons
• Insulation and Energy Saving 
• As few heating devices as possible
• Air cooling for heatwaves
• Preserving the natural light

                            Watch the Andrew Moor Library Project Video

              (If you are watching the video on your phone, after you finish the                              video, please swipe back to come back to the Crowdfunding page)

Ultimately, this space is a long-term investment in stained glass. 

Before I cease making, I want to ensure the survival of the studio by handing the studio over to a long-term tenant who shares this passion, a lasting haven for future professionals to develop their skills and safeguard the craft for the future. 

As this is a business park with multi-generational ownership, I am confident this will exist for many years to come.

Ideally, I would need to build the room before the hard winter sets in, so I can welcome people to a warm space.

Beyond one-off gifts, monthly donations will fund library books, library & study room improvements to display samples, and bespoke studio furnishings. The next improvements would be perfecting the Jane Gray Area, the medium/small/one-off stock area pictured below. When you click to donate, you will find this option.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Whether you are reading along, kindly supporting, or sharing with your networks, your connection to this project makes a meaningful difference.

With deep gratitude,

Nathalie Liege

Couleurlive Ltd.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 13th November 2026 at 3:54pm