AS A York businessman and artist Dan Savage is proving himself to be a "glass act".

Dan's new business, Artstop Studios, is pioneering the use of technology normally used in manufacturing to produce pieces of highly stylised glass art - and leading organisations across the UK can not get enough of it.

Dan established Artstop Studios in Boroughbridge Road, York, last September, his work having already proved popular with a 40-piece permanent installation in the foyer of the Nissan Factory in Sunderland, an exhibition at Bonham's Gallery in New Bond Street, London and involvement in an exhibition entitled Edge, at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland.

Adapting a technique based on methods normally used to produce cooker hobs, Dan creates printed glass artwork.

The procedure involves crushing glass into a fine powder, mixing it with a medium, screen printing it directly on to float glass (which is the same as a window pane) and then firing it at a high temperature.

The coloured powder then melts into the existing float glass, producing stylish and interesting artwork.

Acting as the designer and project manager, Dan mainly produces one-off pieces, but can also produce popular pieces in greater quantities if required.

Dan is a member of the Creative York cluster, which represents a wide range of creative businesses within the region, and provides regular networking events and business support. Through the Visual Enterprise Scheme at York College, he was awarded a £2,000 grant from the Arts Council England (Yorkshire) to help him set up his own studios and access business training and advice over 18-months.

Now, with architectural commissions for public buildings flooding in plus interest from galleries wanting to display his work, Dan said: "One of the key elements of my success has been the support, advice and encouragement I have been given by Science City York and I would advise anyone interested in working in the creative technologies to make contact with them."

Dr Deborah Girdlestone, business promoter for Science City York, said: "Artstop Studios is a great example of a creative business finding a niche in the market and making an immediate success of meeting that markets very particular requirements."

Updated: 11:22 Tuesday, May 16, 2006