Young designer Bee Hardy hopes a TV appearance will help launch her glass-blowing business.
Bee, 24, of Lindley, fell into glass blowing by accident – but found she had a real talent.
Last year she was chosen to take part in a new TV programme and hopes the skills she learned – and the national exposure – will fire her fledgling business.
Bee, who runs Bee Hardy Glass from her parents’ home, will appear on Monty Don’s Hard Craft which is due to air on Channel Four’s More4 in the spring.
Bee had no idea what she wanted to do after leaving college but, after working in a jewellery shop, applied for a jewellery and silver-smithing course at the University of Sunderland.
No sooner had Bee quit her job ready for the move North, than the university rang her to say the course had been cancelled.
“It was a massive shock,” said Bee, now back home with mum Deborah, 51, and dad John, 53.
“I had taken two years to choose the course I wanted to do and I calmly phoned the university dean and, very diplomatically, told him he had ruined my life!”
Bee had turned down other university places to go to Sunderland and asked what other courses they could offer.
“They suggested fashion but I wanted to do a craft. Then they said: ‘What about glass-blowing?’ It was something I had never thought of.”
Bee signed up for a three-year course in glass and ceramics and graduated last year with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
“It was tough at first because I knew nothing at all about glass-blowing,” said Bee.
“But the university lecturers said that wasn’t a problem because they taught students on the basis they knew nothing anyway.
“It was intimidating at first but then I found my lack of experience worked for me.
“I found that designing was my strong point. While the other students with experience were more constrained and traditional in their designs I was going off making crazy things.”
After graduating Bee, who now works part-time at the Cavalry Arms in Birchencliffe, saw an advert for the new Monty Don programme.
She applied and was interviewed five times over the phone before being invited for a screen test in London.
Eventually she was chosen as one of three glass-blowers to undergo an intensive four-week masterclass under the glare of the cameras.
Various traditional crafts feature in the series.
What happens remains under wraps but Bee said: “My skills improved rapidly over the four weeks.
“Glass-blowing is a very rewarding craft because you can see piece by piece how you are getting better.
“It wasn’t a competition but we were all winners. We have gained so much.”
The pieces Bee made on the show remain with the production company until the programme goes out.
Bee is now taking commissions for work but has to wait until she has enough to afford the £500 a day fee to hire a glass-blowing studio.
“I will get there,” she said. “Once the show has aired it will be a different ball game.”
Contact Bee at beehardyglass@hotmail.co.uk or at Bee Hardy Glass on Facebook.
