Pen y Fan Engraving: A Personalised Glass

This commission involved a mineral water glass engraved with a combination of landscape and symbolic elements.

Reference and Layout

The design combined three distinct elements.

On one side, an engraving of Pen y Fan. On the opposite side, a pair of walking boots. Beneath, the inscription:

FORTIS ET LIBER

While each element could be read independently, they were selected to work together. The mountain references a specific place, the boots the act of reaching it, and the inscription provides a personal statement that connects the two.

Rather than creating a continuous wraparound design, the elements were positioned around the glass as separate components, allowing the viewer to discover them as the glass is turned.

Preparation and Engraving

Each element was prepared separately, with adjustments made to scale and spacing to suit the proportions of the glass.

The artwork was transferred to stencil and sandblasted to produce a consistent etched finish, maintaining clarity across both image and text.

Outcome

The finished piece combines landscape, object and inscription within a restrained layout.

Although drawn from separate references, the three elements work together to describe a single experience rather than a single location.

A mountain, a journey and a personal motto, brought together within a single composition.