{{Short description|Scottish glass artist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use Scottish English|date=October 2022}}
'''Denis Mann''' (born 1935) is a Scottish glass artist. He studied under Helen Monro Turner at the Edinburgh Art College where he learnt the copper wheel engraving technique, which he used in his later career. After a short stint as an art teacher, including during National Service with the Royal Air Force, Mann became a professional artist. Mann sent several pieces of work to Caithness Glass, ahead of accepting a job there as engraver and designer, and these were spotted by Bill Wright, creator and producer of upcoming BBC game show ''Mastermind''. Wright asked Mann to produce the trophies for the show. The first of these was presented in 1972 and Mann went on to produce them for each subsequent series. He is now semi-retired.
== Early life and career == Mann was born in Ballinluig, Perthshire, in 1935.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |title=Mastermind: The man behind 50 years of glass trophies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-62849057 |access-date=21 September 2022 |work=BBC News |date=21 September 2022}}</ref><ref name=ross>{{cite news |last1=Hendry |first1=Alan |title=PICTURES: Highland glass artist muses on 50 years of Mastermind designs |url=https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/pictures-highland-glass-artist-muses-on-50-years-of-masterm-287974/ |access-date=21 September 2022 |work=RossShire Journal |date=18 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He was educated at Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy and then at Edinburgh Art College.<ref name=john>{{cite news |last1=Hendry |first1=Alan |title=Wick glass artist reflects on 50 years of Mastermind designs |url=https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/wick-glass-artist-reflects-on-50-years-of-mastermind-designs-287632/ |access-date=21 September 2022 |work=JohnOGroat Journal |date=17 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref> At the college Mann studied under Helen Monro Turner (wife of glass chemist W. E. S. Turner).<ref name=bbc2>{{cite news |last1=Parnell |first1=Grace |title=Sheffield's glass wedding dress |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sheffield/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8941000/8941001.stm |access-date=21 September 2022 |work=BBC Sheffield & South Yorkshire |date=25 August 2010}}</ref> Mann particularly specialised in copper wheel engraving, a now rarely used technique that allows the engraving of delicate shapes in glass.<ref name=bbc/> He notes "it is such a beautiful technique. There is also the pleasure of knowing that I am continuing such an ancient tradition".<ref name=ross/>
Mann then trained as a teacher and taught art in Stirlingshire.<ref name=john/> Called up for National Service Mann served as an art teacher with the Royal Air Force.<ref name=bbc/><ref name=john/> He was deployed to the Aden Protectorate which he described as a culture shock that "re-awoke the urge to draw anything and everything".<ref name=ross/> In his early 30s he became disillusioned with teaching and sought employment as an artist.<ref name=bbc/> He moved to Wick, Caithness, in 1970, by which time he was married to Trudi, an assistant archivist.<ref name=john/>
== Mastermind trophies == In 1970 Mann was visiting Caithness Glass to discuss terms, ahead of accepting a job there as designer and engraver. On the same day Bill Wright, creator and producer of upcoming BBC game show ''Mastermind'', was visiting the factory to discuss a trophy for the show. Mann did not meet Wright on that day but some of his copper wheel engraved work, depicting human figures, was shown to Wright and he approved.<ref name=john/><ref name=bbc/> Mann accepted the job at Caithness Glass and worked on designing and producing bowls, including those that he would later engrave for ''Mastermind''.<ref name=john/> Wright commissioned the trophy from Caithness Glass and the work was given to Mann. The pair met early in 1971 to discuss the design, which Wright wanted to be classical in style and feature the nine Muses of Greek mythology.<ref name=john/><ref name=bbc/>
The first trophy was presented at the end of the inaugural 1972 series and Mann went on to produce the trophy for every subsequent edition of the programme, producing 50 trophies by 2022.<ref name=bbc/> Each trophy is themed on the Muses but is unique in design.<ref name=bbc/> In the initial years the ''Mastermind'' producers visited Mann to discuss the design of each trophy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hendry |first1=Alan |title=Glass artist Denis reflects on 50 years of Mastermind designs |url=https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/glass-artist-denis-reflects-on-50-years-of-mastermind-design-287633/ |access-date=21 September 2022 |work=Northern Times |date=17 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In recent times Mann has used former Scottish National Party MSP Gail Ross as a muse and model for the work, she donates her fee to charity.<ref name=bbc/> In recognition of his work on the programme ''Mastermind'' presenter Magnus Magnusson presented Mann with a signed limited edition print of the show's iconic chair, on its 25th anniversary.<ref name=john/>
== Later life == After leaving Caithness Glass Mann established his own studio on the Caithness coast, whose landscape would inspire some of his work.<ref name=bbc/> He uses a lathe that used to belong to Helen Turner.<ref name=john/> Mann has produced pieces for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Elizabeth II, the BBC programme ''One Man and His Dog'' and Compaq.<ref name=bbc/> In 2010 he exhibited ''Discord'', an engraved glass panel depicting two hands above a piano keyboard about to play a dischord, at the Turner Museum of Glass in Sheffield.<ref name=bbc2/>
Mann is now semi-retired and lives in Wick.<ref name=john/>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mann, Denis}} Category:1935 births Category:Living people Category:People from Perthshire Category:Scottish artists Category:British glass artists Category:Alumni of the Edinburgh College of Art