A FORMER dental technician has gone back to his roots to become glass engraver.

After being made redundant Alexis Valentine from Helmshore struggled to find work before deciding to make his own path.

Alexis, who has worked with precise drills making bridges and crowns for teeth, turned his steady hand to engraving glass.

And now, his stunning work is turning heads at the artisan markets he regularly attends and he has even been asked to engrave business awards with local landmarks.

Alexis, 51, of Mayfield Avenue, said: "There are other engravers around but no other former dental technicians that I know of.

“I was made redundant from 32 years in dentistry where I worked in Bolton in a small lab. I was going to the job centre for two months thinking there are no jobs, I'm going to have to make my own or take something really rubbish.

“In all the time I was a dental technician I never once thought about touching glass with a drill. It never occurred to me.

“I have always done pen and ink and oil paintings and made my own furniture. I am quite a creative person but I never thought about selling anything and making money out of it.

“My next door neighbour was a nail technician who used a little mini drill in her work. One day I asked if I could borrow it one day and used it to write Irish and draw a shamrock. I showed it to her and she was amazed that I'd managed to just do it. That's when it all started.”

Alexis bought himself a better drill, similar to those used in dentistry, and with some funding from regenerate Lancashire he invested more into the business.

He said: “When I first started the first few big things I did it and I was in awe with what I'd created. I have never seen any engraved glass like it.

“I engraved the Rossendale business awards and I just photographed them at the top of my stairs. I was stood there thinking 'I have the Rossendale business awards in my hands’.

“I have taught myself how to duplicate designs.

“I design everything by hand and engrave it by scratching. It takes hours and hours of work.

“I used lots of different sized drill bits, some which are used by engravers and others from dental companies. They are tiny drill bits.”

Alexis does all his work from his spare room at home.

He said: “When I decided I was going to be a glass engraver I just decided to take everything out of the spare room and i built myself a 2m bench and my own sandblaster. It should have cost hundreds, but i managed to make one for £50. I also made a stand which i take to exhibits and craft fairs.

“I do quite a lot of artisan markets in Ramsbottom and Tottington and Liverpool. People are amazed at what they see and what I can make.

“I put all my redundancy money into starting up. I'm paying my way but I would always like more work.”

He said his portraits take a minimum of 10 hours, and some glasses with lettering can take half a day.

“My wife is sick of me having glasses everywhere in the house. i have a pile of boxes at the bottom of the stairs that i take with me to artisan markets.

“If I'm not happy with any of the glasses I have done I start again. That can be frustrating, but i'm a perfectionist. I am so critical about what I have done.”