BTU Studio

BTU was founded by Scott Benefield and Andrea Spencer in Randalstown, Northern Ireland, in 2011 as the first new independent hot glass studio established in Ireland since the 1970s. In 2016, the studio relocated to a restored farm property near the North Antrim Coast, just outside the village of Ballintoy, where it continues to operate as a fully equipped hot glass facility.
Named after the British Thermal Unit — a historic measure of heat energy — BTU reflects both the studio’s connection to place and its enduring fascination with the transformative nature of working glass at high temperatures. The name also speaks to the collaborative spirit at the heart of the practice.
Working individually and collaboratively, Benefield and Spencer create an annual collection of functional and decorative handblown glass, designed and produced entirely within the studio. Alongside these works, BTU undertakes a select range of commissioned projects spanning architectural installations, bespoke lighting, public art, and limited-edition vessels and objects. Across every project, their focus remains the same: a commitment to craftsmanship, material excellence, and the expressive possibilities of glass.