Michael Harris, graduated from the Royal College of Art (RCA) with first class honours in 1959 and later became an RCA tutor, setting up hot glass facilities there in 1967. The following year he founded Mdina Glass in Malta, remaining there until 1972, when he moved back to the UK and founded Isle of Wight Studio Glass in 1973. He could have chosen anywhere in the UK but settled on a converted barn in the Undercliff Ventnor, as the most stimulating environment to create and make his new collection…. the rest is history.

Timothy, after completing formal college studies on the art and craft of glassmaking and working in the USA, returned to the Isle of Wight in 1980 to join his father’s already successful studio who, remarkably, had perfected the addition of gold and silver to the surface of hot glass and had been awarded ‘The Best of BritishDesign’ at the Design Centre London, by the Duke of Edinburgh and applauded by the global studio glass movement. Their work was probably sold to every major store in most countries of the world.

Sadly, Michael died in 1994, leaving Tim to create a second generation of the ‘Harris Dynasty’. Tim has since been recognised as probably the finest, most accomplished, and most innovative glassmaker this country has ever had.

In1990 his contribution and talent were recognised in several prestigious awards including the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) which supportsExcellence in British Craftsmanship.

The Royal family’s love of glass includes Timothy’s personal presentation of an engraved bowl to HerMajesty the Queen in her Jubilee year of 2012. The bowl was a gift from the people of the Isle of Wight and was later exhibited in the Royal Collection. A further unique piece was created by Timothy for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in2022.