Our Story

The beginnings of Kingdom Glassblowing and our mission to help grieving families and pet owners started in Taupō, New Zealand.

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As husband and wife, we shared our lives with our beloved boxer, who for ten years was our world. When he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, our hearts were shattered. I held him in my arms as he crossed the rainbow bridge, leaving behind a piece of my soul. Returning home, I comforted my wife and gently explained to our three-year-old son that his best friend was gone.

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As a trained glassblower, I had once heard of incorporating cremation ashes into glass art. Using a small portion of our boxer’s ashes, I created a simple glass orb in his memory — the first memorial of its kind I had ever made. That piece remains one of our most treasured belongings. In grief, we found a silver lining — a reminder to cherish every moment, the people (and pets) we love, and the health we’re blessed with.

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That moment sparked a lifelong commitment to help others honour the lives of their loved ones through hand-blown glass memorials.

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We began crafting memorial keepsakes for close friends and family, and soon word spread to others who shared our mission and love for this meaningful art.

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Our dream had always been to travel. When Kiki left us, we felt it was his way of telling us to follow that dream. We packed our lives into a few suitcases and set off for Europe with our two young sons, exploring over a dozen countries in search of a place to call home.

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Life, like grief, has its own twists. The near loss of Renee’s father brought us back to New Zealand for a time — a powerful reminder to keep pursuing what truly matters. That journey eventually led us to beautiful Ireland, where we found the perfect place to continue our story.

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From a small stone cottage in rural central Ireland, we rebuilt our studio and refined the equipment needed to create exquisite glass art. Today, our work is displayed in galleries, and we are proud members of the Glass Art Society of Ireland and the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, as well as active participants in our local art community.

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When we saw a picture of a boxer puppy on a butcher’s noticeboard — in need of a home after a Christmas gone wrong — we knew it was fate. We welcomed Ruby into our family, and now she bounds happily through our garden, where we home-educate our two creative, empathetic sons.

Together, we have developed a range of blown-glass cremation memorials, lovingly handcrafted to help others through their journey of loss and remembrance.

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Though small, our family-run business in Ireland is deeply committed to celebrating the unique character behind every memorial keepsake. We take the time to listen — to understand the bond you shared with your pet or loved one — so that every piece reflects their spirit.

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Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do. We use energy-efficient equipment, electricity from 100% renewable sources, and we actively track and offset our carbon footprint through the Cnaught platform, with the goal of creating carbon-zero glass art.

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This is just the beginning of our story — and we would love to be part of yours.
If you wish to honour your loved one or pet with a handmade glass memorial, we invite you to contact us and discover how we can help you cherish their memory forever.