This article appeared in the Fremantle Herald on 27 April 2021 

A stunning series of feature windows designed by O’Connor based stained glass extraordinaire Ian Dixon will take pride of place at a state-of-the-art residential care facility being built in Dunsborough.

The windows – depicting black cockatoos, eucalyptus and flowering gums – will be installed next week in the reception area at Capecare Dunsborough, which is due to open mid-year.

Mr Dixon’s business, Perth Art Glass, was commissioned to create the three-panel artwork and he will personally help with the installation.

“Although i did the design work and I did all the glass selection, the actual crafting was a team effort,” he said.

“Our brief was to reflect the local environment with the new facility being adjacent to a nature reserve and so close to the coast.

“The hand-painted cockatoos and flowering gums lend a unique quality that elevates the work beyond standard leadlight.”

After spending three days designing the windows – which are worth about $9000 – it took Mr Dixon and his workers Simon Cook and Linda Etherington about four weeks to handcraft them.

Mr Dixon said while stained glass has been around for many centuries there were only a few people seriously dedicated to the artform in Perth/

“I’ve been doing it for 36-years,” he said.

“Nothing has changed, really in hundreds of years in the way that these are made.

“Some of the tools we have are probably a little better than some of the ones that were around 100 years ago, but everything is still hand-done so they’re very bespoke.

“It’s particularly important that architectural windows such as these are built with strength and longevity in mind.”

The windows will be among a number of artworks, including exterior murals and sculpture, set to