Roland Berry, 73, a stained glass artist from Cheltenham, has found TikTok fame after his daughter’s videos went viral, inspiring a new generation.
Roland drives heavy goods vehicles, but his true love is stained glass. He began learning at age 25 after befriending a cathedral glass restorer. Roland is now a master craftsman, and in 2022, he made art for his daughter’s wedding.
His daughter, Cicely, filmed Roland and posted the videos on TikTok. They became very popular, with people viewing his work millions of times. He gets orders globally, and his classes are full, as Roland wants to inspire people and keep stained glass alive.
Roland says stained glass is dying out, so he wants to encourage its beauty. He met a glass restorer at 25 who taught him the craft, and Roland has always enjoyed it, finding it a constant pleasure.
Over time, stained glass lost popularity, which Roland blames on fewer new churches and less home use. He created a special piece for his daughter’s wedding in 2022, showing their initials in glass.
Cicely noticed online interest and decided to record her dad, Roland. She posted videos without telling him, hoping to show his talent.
Her first TikTok video got half a million views, showing Roland smiling with family, paintings, and glass designs. Cicely kept filming her dad, and Roland was happy and surprised by the response, which spurred them to decide to continue.
Their videos became incredibly popular, with one earning over nine million views that showed Roland welcoming his first student. Cicely posted it and woke up shocked, as it had thousands of likes and comments.
Cicely told her dad to expect more emails, as social media is new to Roland. Seeing the rapid growth was amazing. Roland uses colorful glass pieces to create intertwined letters, designs, flowers, fish, and abstract art.
His TikTok videos show his workshop and the classes he hosts. Roland even shows how to cut glass after people asked about the process.
Roland said it changed his life, finding it overwhelming at times, but he appreciates the lovely, humble comments. Many want to join Roland’s classes, asking where he teaches the craft he knows.
Viewers love Roland’s calm nature as he shows how to cut the glass. People say his videos are comforting and they feel better after watching them.
Roland now gets commissions from around the world, working on pieces for California, Detroit, and Poole. He paints dogs in watercolor too, but his stained glass gets more interest.
His classes started in 2024, taking place in his studio or local schools. These courses fill up quickly, as Roland wants to share everything he knows, and he is pleased when people join them.
Roland hopes to inspire others and feels sharing his story online is important. He wants young people interested in art, and Cicely wants more to learn stained glass, as it is her dad’s greatest passion.
