A piece of coloured glass becomes a thing of beauty in the hands of Ruth Ward. Sandra Carter enjoys viewing her work.

YOU may want to disguise an unsightly view from your window. You may want to make a creative statement in your lounge. You may want to stamp your personality on your front door so that every visitor gets an immediate impression of what you're like.

For Ruth Ward, these are all opportunities for a unique artistic creation in stained glass.

She says: "I just love creating something beautiful in people's homes, changing a window into a piece of art."

Ruth, 38, has been working in stained glass for the past 15 years, after graduating in art at BCUC specialising in glass and ceramics.

Her present studio in a farm outhouse in Little Kingshill is the perfect place to draw inspiration for the more tranquil commissions, featuring flowers and wildlife, which are always popular. David Jason, for example, who lives near Wendover, chose lilies to complement the flowers in his big garden.

But she also loves the more unusual challenge, creating a window which matches someone's lifestyle.

A window for a jazz musician features a lively jiving character. A swimming pool building in Beaconsfield sports dolphins at play. A pop singer chooses an abstract design focussing on light and movement.

Then there are churches, which are a special pleasure to work in, she says. Here, where the long tradition of stained glass windows developed to unrivalled heights of beauty, stained glass truly matches the surroundings.

But a modern lounge, bathroom, kitchen or hallway can also be transformed with the beautiful colours of glass with the light glowing through.

As well as stained glass pieces which are leaded together the traditional process Ruth also creates stunning windows by painting glass and kiln firing it. Plain glass can also be etched with a sand blaster or with acid, creating intricate, detailed designs.

This can give a soft, subtle effect, fitting perfectly into a more minimalist decor.

But Ruth's life isn't all art and craft. She leads expeditions of World Challenge teenagers on adventures such as canoeing down the Orange River in South Africa, she loves getting out in the mountains, she writes songs, and she spent part of this summer teaching kayaking to army cadets.

Now however she's back surrounded by the tranquil, jewel colours of glass.

www.ruthwardstainedglass.co.uk, 07790 417318