Celebrated Canadian artist and glass blower Shirley Elford has gained an international reputation for her exquisite hand-crafted glass sculptures.

Shirley's work has been featured in galleries from Canada to Hong Kong, and is represented in many private and international collections including the Bronfman/Claridge Collection, the Royal Ontario Museum, Fortron International and the Skydome Founders Club. Her awards are numerous including the 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of Canadian Confederation in 1992, Woman of the Year in the Arts from the Hamilton Status of Women in 1991, and the Canadian Achiever Award in 1996. In 2002, Shirley was inducted into the prestigious Hamilton Gallery of Distinction.

As an artist, Shirley is best known for her presentation pieces, which are painstakingly designed to honour the recipient. She designed the new Juno award in 2000 for the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. She was commissioned by the Commonwealth Games Committee to create a piece for his Royal Highness Prince Edward. Shirley has presented her work to the likes of Elton John, Pavarotti, the Tragically Hip, and the late Christopher Reeve.

Through Shirley's art and medium of glass, she conveys the line and structure of the nature surrounding her. She duplicates the atmospheric effect of light on the landscape that comprises her corner of the world. As you study her glass creations, you will appreciate both their aesthetic and functional qualities.

Shirley Elford has studied at a number of different schools including the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) and Sheridan College in Toronto, the Pilchuck School in Washington, and the Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass. She has also spent time studying craft and design in Cairo, Egypt.