Honouring Professor James MS Hutchinson: A Special Commission

Some commissions stay with you long after the work is done.

A few years ago, we were entrusted with creating a commemorative plaque to honour the life and achievements of the late Professor James MS Hutchinson, one of the pioneering minds behind the development of MRI scanning technology.

The plaque, now on display in Alyth Town Centre, was unveiled by Professor Hutchinson’s widow in a ceremony attended by family and members of the community. It commemorates a legacy of innovation that has touched lives across the world, a quiet reminder of how craft, in all its forms, can help tell the stories that matter most.

A Thoughtful Departure From Glass

While our craft is usually rooted in engraved glassware, this commission called for a different approach. The plaque was created in slate, carefully engraved with a short piece about Professor Hutchinson’s life alongside an image of the Mark One MRI scanner, the machine that marked the beginning of a new era in medical imaging.

Finished with a gold infill to honour both the significance of his work and the memory of a life dedicated to discovery, this project was a departure from our usual materials, but not from our philosophy. Whether working in glass or stone, our focus remains the same: crafting pieces that are made to last and made to mean more.

Crafting Pieces That Tell a Story

We don’t usually work with slate, but some projects ask for more than the ordinary. Special commissions like this are a reminder that our work is about more than technique or material. It’s about capturing a story in a way that endures.

Professor Hutchinson’s legacy is one of quiet impact, a perfect reflection of the kind of craftsmanship we believe in: thoughtful, lasting, and personal.

It was an honour to be a small part of preserving that story.