Stephen Adam (stained glass designer)


Stephen Adam was a 19th/20th-century Scottish influential stained glass designer. He was a pioneer of modern stained glass in Scotland. The majority of his work is in the Pre-Raphaelite style, often with a twist towards Celtic mythology, and is mainly sited in western Scotland. Although the bulk of his work is for churches he also receiving many secular commissions.

Life

He was born at Bonnington Haugh north of Edinburgh the son of Alexander Adam. He was educated at Canonmills School.
In 1861 he was apprenticed to the Edinburgh stained glass designers, the Ballantine Brothers. He also attended art classes at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh and Haldane's Academy in Glasgow.
In 1865 he joined the studios of Daniel Cottier at 47 Carrick Street. In 1870 he left to set up his own business at 121 Bath Street in partnership with David Small. He was then living at 4 Cathkin Terrace in the Cathcart district. The partnership was dissolved in 1885.
He set up new premises at 7 Scott Street in the Garnethill district, then living at 276 Renfrew Street. Expanding rapidly he moved to 259 West George Street and moved house to 1 Holmhead Crescent back in Cathcart, before finally moving to a truly huge six storey studio at 231 St Vincent Street in the city centre.
From 1889 he trained other stained glass artists including his son, Stephen Adam, David Gauld and Alf Webster. In 1896 the firm became Adam & Son but a family dispute caused them to split in 1904.
He died at Bath Street in Glasgow in August 1910 and his work was continued by Alf Webster.
Webster's genius was cut short whilst serving in the Gordon Highlanders in the First World War when he was fatally wounded in the battlefield and died at Le Touquet Red Cross Station in 1915.

Family

Little mention is made of Adam's wife, but he married before 1864 and his relocation to Glasgow in that year may relate to a family connection of his wife.
Stephen Adam junior.

Publications