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A Bolton-based business is once again enjoying the sweet smell of success after being 'signed up' by band Blossoms. Neon Creations gained national attention after appearing on the hit BBC David & Jay Touring Toolshed. Recently it was enlisted by Blossoms to provide a piece of neon artwork for their stage set whilst on tour.
Tony Spink, born and raised in South-East London, has been producing neon signs as a glass bender for over 35 years. He fell in love with neon signs and the process, and quickly realised that there is so much more to neon signs than high street signage, fuelling his passion for wanting to use neon for an art form. (Image: Social media/ Sarah Stephens) He currently runs the business, which is based on Higher Swan Lane in Bolton , alongside his wife, Catherine.
The piece, a sign that reads ‘NIGHT CLUB’ will feature in photos from the stage in their latest UK tour. Tony said: “The Blossoms project came about after they posted on their Instagram asking for someone to recommend where they could get bespoke Neon art made for their tour and a few people recommended us to them, so they called and spoke to me about what they wanted. “Imagine my delight when Joe Donovan, the drummer, from the Blossoms came down personally to collect the finished piece and even had a little go at glass bending himself.
” The sign featured on the Blossoms social media account, in a video shared to their 259k followers. (Image: Instagram) Tony has also produced bespoke pieces for major brands as well as high profile musicians and premiership footballers. He is “immensely proud” to be one of the few neon artists in the UK that design and make their own work, and “loves the journey that each original idea takes him on, with a finished piece never ending up as originally visualised.
” Despite his success with Neon Creations , neon glass bending is on the Heritage Crafts Association’s Red List of Endangered Crafts in the UK. Tony and Catherine are currently battling to get the term “neon signs” protected so only true neon signs made from glass tubes and filled with gas, can be called that. READ MORE: Poppywood Alpaca Centre celebrates planning permission Yorkshire Vet star Matt Jackson-Smith to stop at Rivington Paddy McGuiness raises more than £9m for Children in Need Neon Creations visited by David and Jay's Touring Toolshed There are no institutions in the UK where you can go to learn neon glass bending, with training now completed in-house.
This depends on the availability and inclination of individual makers to pass on their skills. Tony is planning an exhibition will showcase this beautiful art form and educate people about the craft. Got a story? Email me at Leah.
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