Artist's Statement

My ceramic work is concerned with the malleability of material through making and firing. I endeavour to capture the softness of wheel thrown clay in the finished objects. My work revolves around a concept of function sometimes breaking through into it and sometimes referencing it. Forms are informed by early animated film in which domestic utilitarian objects are anthropomorphised, taking on human gestures and interactions.

All pieces are fired in wood fired anagama kilns for three to five days, using the pyroplasticity, fly ash and flame flashing of the firing to accentuate the softness and movement within the form.
I have developed several stoneware clays and porcelains which respond directly to the atmospheres generated within the kiln and respond to direct flame impingement during protracted wood firings. Some of the work is partially glazed with titanium ash glaze and carbon trapping shinos. All pieces are assembled and altered while soft.

Current Work

My ceramic work is concerned with the malleability of material through making and firing. I endeavour to capture the softness of wheel thrown clay in the finished objects. My work revolves around a concept of function sometimes breaking through into it and sometimes referencing it.

Current position, Technical tutor. Loughborough University School of Art and Design.

Work generally available from:
Leicester City Gallery. Leicester.
Rye Art Galley, Rye, East Sussex
Where I Fell in Love Gallery, Shipton-on-Stour
Rufford Ceramic Centre, Nr. Ollerton, Nottinghamshire
Oakwood Ceramics
 

Other Information
Published articles:
Ceramic review 197: "The perfect Body"On-going research into the formulation of clays and glazes which utilise extended wood firings.
The log book Issue 14: "50 cubic feet of pots, fire and ash". Building an anagama kiln.
Associations:
Professional member of the Craft Potters Association of Great Britain.
Member the Midlands Potters Association.

Technical Information

All pieces are fired in wood fired anagama kilns for three to five days, to cone 14 at the front of the kiln and cone 12 at the back. I use the pyroplasticity of the bodies in the firebox area to accentuate the softness of some forms. More functional pieces are porcelain with a silica opacified ‘nuka' style glaze, these are placed in saggars towards the rear of the kiln. Other work relies on natural ash glazes, and flame flashing of the clay body itself. I have developed several stoneware clays and porcelains which respond directly to the atmospheres and duration of protracted wood firings . Some of this work is partially glazed with titanium ash glaze, nuka and carbon trapping shinos. All pieces are assembled and altered while soft on the wheel.

Career Background

Qualifications and training:
1995 - 1996. MA. (Ceramics) University of Wales institute, Cardiff. UK
1991 - 1994. BA(Hons). 3D Design (Ceramics) (1st): Wolverhampton University. UK

Work and experience:
September 1997 to present:
Clay, glaze and kiln technician for 3D design Ceramics Degree course. Loughborough University School of Art and Design. UK
Teaching the schools ceramics evening classes. Ceramics tutor at Albert Street Artists. Loughborough. UK

November/December 2002
Built 50cuft anagama kiln for LUSAD ceramics dept.

January 2000
Rebuilt part of anagama kiln at Wysing Arts, Cambridgeshire. UK

June - August 1998
Built catenary arch wood fired salt kiln at Wysing Arts, Cambridgeshire. UK

September 1996 to September 1997.
Running Tredenham Pottery, St. Mawes. Cornwall. UK.
Making and selling thrown domestic salt fired stoneware and electric fired porcelain. Part time production thrower for the St. Neots pottery, Bodmin. Cornwall. UK

September 1994 to August 1995
Tettenhall College. Wolverhampton. UK:
Artist in residence and house tutor. Teaching Key stage 3 Art and Design. GCSE and `A' level ceramics. Organising ceramics workshops in the school studios and exhibitions in the gallery.

1994 Summer.
Helped build catenary arch wood fired kiln at Wolverhampton University.

1989 to 1991.
The Chestnuts Pottery, Stratford-Upon-Avon. Warwickshire. Making and selling thrown domestic stoneware and one off raku pieces.

Exhibitions

Forthcoming exhibitions:
Oxford Ceramic Fair. Oxford - 27th – 28th October. 07
Spiral Gallery. Settle North Yorks - 12th Oct – 24th Dec. 07
Galerie Handwerk. Koblenz. Germany - Winter Exhibition 07/08
Galerie Handwerk. Koblenz. Germany - Spring 08
Shipley Gallery. Gateshead - 15th Nov – 5 Jan. 08
Rye Art Gallery. Rye. East Sussex - Nov 07 – Jan 08
Rye Art Gallery. Rye. East Sussex - August 08

Previous exhibitions:
July 2005: Earth and Fire
May 2005: Where I Fell in Love Gallery
October 2004: Oxford Studio Ceramics
January 2004: Leicester city Gallery
September 2003: Melbourne applied arts. Derbyshire
July 2003: Earth and Fire. Rufford craft centre
December 2002: Leicester city gallery.
November 2002: "Flame paths" Loughborough University gallery.
December 2001: Leicester City gallery.
October 2001: Wysing Arts Gallery, Cambridge. "Anagama wood fired ceramics"
July 2001: Whimpole Hall gallery, Cambridge.

Publications

“The perfect body” - Ceramic Review 197
“50 cubic feet of pots, fire and ash” - The log book Issue 14
“Carbon footprint” - Ceramic Review 220
“Liquid animation” (profile by Paul McAllister) Ceramics Technical 23
“Active Wadding” - The log book - Issue 28
“Firing: Philosophies Within Contemporary Ceramic Practice” By David Jones. (p. 89 - 91).