Meet The Team

Prof. SARAH BROWN

MA FSA FRHistS Hon. FMGP

After a long career in the heritage sector, Sarah joined the Trust as its director in 2008, having served as a trustee for a number of years. She has researched and published widely on stained glass history and conservation. She is currently Chairman of the Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi for Great Britain, and General Secretary of the International Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Stained Glass. She is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers, and is one of its expert members, evaluating conservation grants for its charitable foundation, the Glaziers Trust. Sarah is also a member of Durham Cathedral's Fabric Advisory Committee, and a member of the Diocesan Advisory Committees for both Oxford and York, as well as a member of the Morris  committee for the Society of Antiquaries' William and Jane Morris Fund. She is a senior lecturer in History of Art at the University of York and course director of its MA in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management. At the York Glaziers Trust, Sarah leads a multinational team of experts in the craft.

NANCY GEORGI ACR

Dipl. Rest. MA ACR - Principal Conservator

Nancy trained as a stained glass conservator at the University of Erfurt, before embarking on an Erasmus travelling scholarship in 1999, where she visited numerous leading stained glass studios in Germany and the UK such as Cologne Cathedral, the Schnuetgen Museum, Canterbury Cathedral, and Barley Studio. She has also undertaken an internship in preventative museum conservation at the National Railway Museum. Nancy worked in private practice for a number of years at Riverside Studio in Hull from 2000-2008. She secured her MA in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management at the University of York in 2010, joining the Trust directly after. In addition to her role at the Trust, since 2011, Nancy has taught technical stained glass modules to postgraduate students at the University of York. She is an associate member of the Corpus Vitrearum's technical and scientific committee, and is an ICON accredited conservator. She is an expert in specialist environmental monitoring of stained glass. She is a trained fire marshal and first aider, and leads on Health and Safety.

Rachel Thomas ACR

BA ACR - Team Leader/Conservator/Glazier

Rachel trained as an illustrator before working in glass, graduating with a BA in Art and Design from Brighton University in 1994. After achieving her postgraduate certificate in art and design, Rachel taught for a number of years in London before undertaking an intensive course in stained glass under Paul San Casciani FMGP. She joined the Trust in 2005 after seven years at Holy Well Glass in Wells, Somerset. In addition to her work as a conservator, Rachel is an acclaimed designer of new stained glass. She has previously won the prestigious and highly competitive Stevens Award commission for her design for Birmingham's Assay Office, and in 2006 designed the first of three new windows for New College, Oxford, for which she won the York Guild of Building's craftsmanship award. She was awarded her Chemistry for Conservators qualification in 2009, is an ICON accredited conservator, and has previously served for eight years on the ICON Accreditation Committee, vetting and examining applications from potential candidates.  

Sophie Gwynn ACR

BA MA ACR - Team Leader/Conservator

Having graduated with a BA in History of Art, Sophie went on to study for an MA in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management at the University of York. She completed her MA in 2013, and then spent two years as a trainee glazier in the stained glass studio at Lincoln Cathedral Works Department. Sophie has undertaken training opportunities in a wide range of stained glass studios both nationally and internationally, including Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden, MC Lead Glaziers in Norfolk, Chapel Studios in Kings Langley, and Glasmalerei Peters in Paderborn, Germany, and at the York Glaziers Trust. She joined the Trust full-time in 2016, and is a trained first aider and an ICON accredited conservator. 

Tony Cattle

Master Glazier - Glazing/Site Team Leader

Tony trained as a conservation glazier at Barley Studio near York, and was formerly workshop manager at Riverside Studio, Hull. He joined the York Glaziers Trust in 2010. In 2011, Tony won the prestigious Master's Award at the York Guild of Building's annual craftsmanship Awards for Excellence for his critical work re-glazing panels from York Minster's Great East Window. With a background of over 25 years in the industry, Tony leads in all associated tasks relating to conservation glazing and site work, and has trained several of our apprentices in these areas to a high standard. He also oversees all of the glazing for new commissions and fabricates protective glazing. 

Anna Milsom

BA Icon CTQ - Team Leader/Conservator/Glass Painter/Photographer

Anna is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University, completing her BA in fine arts, textiles, and embroidery in 2004. After completing various short courses in stained glass at Leeds, she begun her career at the York Glaziers Trust in 2008 as an HLF-funded trainee, working on the conservation of York Minster's Great East Window. Highly proficient in conservation glass-painting, Anna has also collaborated with contemporary artists, helping translate their designs into stained glass. Gaining her Chemistry for Conservators qualification in 2010, Anna is also trained in full-frame and medium-format photography. She is a qualified ICON Conservation Technician, and a trained fire marshal and first aider. 

Lydia Walter

BA - Conservator/Glazier/Photographer

After undertaking a foundation degree in art at Bath City College, Lydia completed her BA studies in Drawing at Falmouth University. She is a highly proficient draughtsman, having undertaken specialised modules in technical and life drawing. Lydia joined the YGT in early 2019 after having excelled on her placement with the Trust. She is a qualified fire marshal and first aider, and has undertaken short courses in metals conservation. She is a versatile team member, and is highly proficient as a glazier, conservator, and site worker, and is also trained in full-frame and medium format photography.  

Hannah Page

BA MA - Conservator

Hannah was awarded a BA in the History of Art from the University of Manchester, before completing her MA in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management. From 2016, she worked for a year at the YGT, her placement supported by a National Heritage Training Group bursary. She then secured employment at leading continental studio Rothkegel Glass and Licht GmbH in Austria, working on a wide range of prestigious European projects. After a rich and varied 7 years abroad, Hannah rejoined the YGT team in early 2024 and is a trained fire marshal and first aider.

Abbie Jones

BA MA - Conservator

Abbie joined the YGT in 2021 after having completed a BA in Fine Art and Art History, and an MA in Textiles in Practice at the Manchester School of Art. She went on to specialise in print, and graduated in 2019. Alongside her studies, Abbie volunteered at Manchester Town Hall where she worked cleaning and packing historic artefacts. She joined the team at YGT as a YMF funded trainee conservator and has since rapidly progressed through her training, gaining a permanent position in the team, first as a junior conservator and before becoming a fully fledged conservator in 2024. She is a trained fire marshal and first aider. 

Sarah Shepherd

BA MA - Junior Conservator

Grace Hall

BA MA - Junior Conservator

Grace studied Fine Art at the University of the Creative Arts in Canterbury, graduating in 2017. During her BA she specialised in photography and print making. After her studies she undertook a work placement with Chapel Studio in Hertfordshire, and completed a short course in stained glass in London. She joined Reading Stained Glass where she repaired and created domestic stained glass. In 2020 Grace began her Masters in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management. Her dissertation focused on the restoration of lost areas of paint using the screen printing technique. After graduating in 2022, Grace joined the YGT's team.

Susanna Wyse Jackson

BA MA - Junior Conservator

Susanna graduated from her BA in Ancient and Medieval History and Culture at Trinity College, Dublin, in 2019. She commenced her MA in Stained Glass Conservation in York thereafter, and served her placement with Atelier Mestdagh and Aletta Rambaut in Ghent. Susanna's dissertation focussed on Irish medieval stained glass. She joined the YGT in early 2023. 

Theo Dives

BA - Apprentice Glazier

Theo has a background in metalworking, having assisted in his father's blacksmith business since childhood. He is proficient in many aspects of traditional ironworking, including coke-fired hot forging for projects ranging from large scale architectural pieces to detailed jewellery. He is also skilled in TIG welding, use of power tools, and site installation. Theo has also worked in theatre production, including set construction using a range of materials, use of stage rigging equipment, scaffolding construction and working at height. He joined the YGT in May 2024 as a YMF-funded apprentice heritage glazier, site worker and metal worker.   

Adam Wilkinson

- Apprentice Glazier

Adam joined the YGT in June 2024, having previously worked in various skilled manual roles, including as a caretaker/maintenance person for over 6 years. He is experienced in driving large vehicles and in various aspects of property maintenance. Formerly, Adam worked as a window fitter and labourer, involved in the construction of foundations and conservatories, and the removal and replacement of domestic glazing and doors. At the YGT, Adam works as a YMF-funded apprentice heritage glazier, site worker, and metal worker.   

Dr Marie Groll

BA MA PhD FSA

After gaining her PhD, Marie has worked in various capacities as a stained glass consultant. She has been involved with major academic editorial projects for the British Corpus Vitrearum/ British Academy, and has herself published on specialist topics. She has also worked as a technical and art historical project leader with the renowned international arts consultancy Büro Rauch, led by acclaimed stained glass expert Dr Ivo Rauch. Marie assesses conservation grant applications and also supports emerging stained glass artists and conservators through her work with the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass. She has been made a prestigious Honorary Freeman in recognition of her services to the Company. For a number of years she was vice chair of the Institute of Conservation's (ICON's) stained glass group. She has been with the Trust since 2017 and is a trained fire marshal and first aider.  

Christine

- Finance Officer

Christine joined the YGT in January 2021, having previously worked in high-level accounting and HR positions for large organisations. She is responsible for all financial aspects of the business, such as budget/income tracking, preparation of financial reports and forecasts, invoicing, expenses, payroll and VAT.