Bob Crooks: colour worth coming home to

Some objects quietly become part of the pleasure of being at home. You notice them as you pass, stop to look a little closer, and find another detail you had missed. A piece of Bob Crooks glass offers that invitation: to enjoy colour and shape in three dimensions.

Our selection ranges from scent bottles and bowls to sculptural vases. You might be choosing your first piece of studio glass or adding to a collection built over years. Begin with the work that makes you want another look.

A lifetime of looking and making

Bob trained at West Surrey College of Art & Design and spent a year assisting Ronnie Wilkinson, a former master glassmaker at Whitefriars. He established First Glass in 1990 and moved the business to Devon in 2002.

His own account of his work describes influences from geometry, architecture and the natural world. He shapes and finishes the glass by hand, without moulds to create its forms or surfaces. That background helps explain the combination of structure and individuality you can explore across his work.

Recognition with a story behind it

In 2008, Bob won the Glass Sellers Art & Craft Award for Vertical Vases, as recorded in the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers’ archives. It is a documented milestone in an established career, and a reason to look more closely at the maker behind the object.

Longstanding stockist A Heart of Glass also reports that Bob has taken a break and closed his studio for the foreseeable future. With new supply uncertain, our collection page is the best place to see the pieces currently available at Primrose. Please ask us about a particular work rather than assuming it can be reordered.

Find the piece you keep returning to

For a sculptural focal point, begin with the Jurassic vase. If you are drawn to bowls, compare the Parakeet and Mini Mosaic. Notice which outline and pattern hold your attention before thinking about where they might go.

A smaller object can be just as personal. The Spiral scent bottle offers another starting point. Check each product page for its dimensions, details and current availability, especially when choosing a gift.

Give it a place in everyday life

Think about a spot you see often: a generous shelf beside your favourite chair, a cabinet or a table away from busy edges. Measure the space and allow room around the object so its silhouette can be enjoyed. Keep delicate glass on a stable surface, safely away from passing hands and elbows.

There is no need to match every object in the room. Try a simple backdrop first, then consider whether a nearby painting or ceramic adds something you like. Our guide to choosing art for your home can help you think about those connections.

Take a closer look with us

Browse available Bob Crooks glass, or explore our wider glass collection. If a finish or size is difficult to judge on screen, contact the gallery before deciding. We can talk through the piece and help you consider the space you have in mind.

Check our delivery information when ordering. Most of all, choose something you look forward to seeing again. A favourite object earns its place through the enjoyment it brings.

Sources: Bob Crooks’ biography, Glass Sellers award archive and A Heart of Glass studio update.