Stained Women | KayBee Glass

The Light Within II

kaybeedigital — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 23:38:46 +0000

The Light Within II depicts a young woman diagnosed young with endometrial cancer and now living with ovarian cancer. This stained glass portrait was based on a photograph for the Mortal and Strong campaign, showing scars of gold using Kinstugi as inspiration. It was made using the Tiffany or copper foil technique where each piece of glass is cut by hand then surrounded by copper before being soldered together.

Gold glass marks the body’s sites of trauma and survival. Hands present in the reference image were reimagined as an ephemeral form, protective yet soft. Here, black becomes her dress, set against a pale grey ground reminiscent of water or sky.

This is a large statement piece. It is framed with zinc and ready to hang.

Please get in touch to discuss postage and packing options.

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The Light Within I

kaybeedigital — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 23:07:20 +0000

The Light Within I (Mel) portrays a woman living with Type 1 diabetes, a condition that holds personal resonance as my father also lived with it. Working from a black, white, and gold “scars of gold” photograph (from the Mortal and Strong 100 voices health campaign), I constructed the figure in transparent grey and gold glass against an opaque black background.

Gold traces the areas of the body shaped by diabetes, reclaiming marks of medicalisation as sites of strength. The surrounding darkness heightens Mel’s luminosity, suggesting an inner, sustaining energy. A zinc frame anchors the work, balancing vulnerability with structure.

Find out more about Mortal and Strong here https://www.mortalandstrong.com

This work is large, a real statement piece. Please email me should you be interested in acquiring it.

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Suffragette Flag

kaybeedigital — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:29:02 +0000

A framed, flowing flag in the suffragette colours; purple (loyalty), white (purity) and green (hope) with an iridescent background that reflects sunlight beautifully. This one-off piece was hand drawn and was made using the copper foil (Tiffany) technique where each piece of glass is hand cut then wrapped in copper before being soldered together.

The suffragette flag was first used in the early 1900s, and the colours were chosen by Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence who was one of the co-founders of Votes for Women which she edited with her husband. She became treasurer of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and in 2010 was arrested outside the House of Commons for causing a disturbance. Because she refused to pay the £10 fine, she was imprisoned in HM Holloway Prison along with Emmeline Pankhurst, the first of a number of custodial sentences. She eventually left the WSPU as she didn’t agree with some of their militant methods, and she joined the United Suffragists which was open to both men and women. She also campaigned for birth control for working class women. You can read about another suffragette piece here Martina Kramers – Dutch suffragette (this one has been sold and is now in North Carolina, USA).

You can see her name and picture on the plinth of the Millicent Fawcett statue in Parliament Square in London, and one of the campus buildings at the London School of Economics is named after her.

This stained glass hanging has been framed with brass and has hanging loops ready to attach your chain or fishing wire depending on the look you want.

This would make a fantastic gift for a feminist or civil rights supporter. It can be hung at a window or on a wall, making a subtle statement about equal rights.

*** Free P&P (UK) ***

If you are looking for a smaller gift, a glass heart might be just what you are looking for Stained glass heart | stained glass art (free shipping UK)

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Glass Marilyn

kaybeedigital — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 22:34:34 +0000

This fused glass portrait of Marilyn Monroe is indeed made of glass (I’ve been asked if she’s made of wax, wool, or resin!). She was first exhibited at the Scottish Glass Society’s “Alchemy” exhibition in Trades Hall, Glasgow, in September 2025 and shown alongside Glass Elvis.

The design was hand drawn directly onto the kiln shelf, then carefully built up using different grades of glass frit (crushed glass) to create depth, colour, and shading. While fused glass is usually smooth, this piece was fired at a cooler temperature for a shorter time, preserving the texture of the frit and giving Marilyn a wonderfully tactile surface.

During firing, I couldn’t resist a quick peek into the kiln and was alarmed to see that her lips had turned completely black! Thankfully, as the glass cooled, her trademark scarlet reappeared. Phew!

Marilyn has been permanently mounted in a white 30 x 30 cm frame, and I’ve removed the cover glass so the texture and sparkle can be seen properly. She truly comes alive in the light, catching and reflecting it beautifully from every angle.

Did you know Marilyn Monroe had a stutter?
👉 Read more here on Vogue.

Details:

One-of-a-kind fused glass artwork
Frame size: 30 x 30 cm
Mounted without cover glass for maximum texture and light play
Includes UK postage and packing
Local delivery available in the Edinburgh area
Overseas shipping available on request

If you are looking for a more traditional stained glass portrait, take a look at my Suffragette.

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Mary Queen of Scots

kaybeedigital — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:44:20 +0000

This stained glass, framed portrait of Mary Queen of Scots is 50cm x 39cm and ready to hang. It’s been made using the copper foil technique and has been hand drawn. She has the saltire – the flag of Scotland – behind her. It has a zinc frame which give it extra stability, and the blue of the saltire looks wonderful with the light shining through. If you look closely you might spot the iridescent glass I used for her skin.

You can read more about Mary Queen of Scots here – Mary Queen of Scots

Or take a look at some of my other stained glass portraits here – Septima. Civil rights activist. Educator. The “Mother of the Movement” (Martin Luther King Jr).

I do custom portraits if you are looking for a special gift. I need a few weeks lead time so don’t leave it to the last minute. Follow the link on my Contact page to email me with your ideas and I’ll get back to you with more information.

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Theresa Kachindamoto |stained glass portrait

kaybeedigital — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 14:15:56 +0000

I decided to make this portrait of Theresa in stained glass to raise awareness of the struggles in Malawi that continue today around education and the rights of girls. Like Jaha Dukureh, the issues she is trying to change are deeply rooted in her country’s traditions and although some of her peers are progressive, many are reluctant to change making her battle all the harder.

I chose Uro by Yough art glass for the headdress and jacket. It’s beautifully textured (but challenging to cut). I used the colours of the Malawi flag (black, red and green) as a background and it’s framed with lead with a hanging chain. It’s just a little smaller than A4 size.

You can read more about Theresa and watch a fascinating BBC video on my What’s New page.

This is most definitely a one-off. You might be interested in more of my stained women series.

For overseas shipping, please contact me to arrange.

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