Artists Statement

Deana Lee was born in Hong Kong and worked overseas in international marketing. On her return to the U.K. in 2003, Lee decided to follow her lifelong passion and in 2006 she graduated with a Higher National Diploma in 3D design, specialising in Ceramics. Since 2005, Lee has assisted ceramics masters like Gilda Westermann, Svend Bayer, Françoise Dufayard, Sandy Brown and Tom Barnett.

After graduating, Lee was one of 39 emerging artists to be selected for the Chinese Arts Centre's Professional Artist Development Scheme, through which she received advice, critiques, a training bursary and a mentoring grant.

Lee specialises in creating her organic smoke fired ceramic sculptures, dishes and wall art at her studios in Earlsfield and Wimbledon, London. She often breaks the pieces either pre or post firing and then rejoins them with industrial resin which is then covered with either silver leaf or 22 carat gold leaf to create a rich vein through the work. Lee's art is in private collections around the world and she specialises in commissions where she can create a piece of art that is specific for people and places, usually incorporating sand from the clients homes, holidays, adventures or special locations. Recently, Lee was one of six artists shortlisted for 2011 Potclays Emerging Maker Award.

Current Work

Chinese Arts Centre Online
Craft Potters Association, London
Crafts Council National Register of Makers, London
Deana Lee's Showroom, Wandsworth, London - by appointment only, Tel: 0771 772 7118
EAST (East Asian Strategic Training Scheme) Online
London Potters
Saatchi Gallery Online
Skylark 2 Gallery, Unit 1.09, OXO Tower Wharf, Southbank, London SE1 9PH, Tel: 020 7401 9666, www.skylarkgalleries.com
Southfields Gallery, 223 Wimbledon Park Road, London SW18 5RH, Tel: 020 8871 2999, www.southfieldsgallery.com
Studio Pottery Online
Tower 42, 25 Broad Street, London EC2N 1HQ
www.MyArtProfile.com

Technical Information

PRE-SMOKE FIRING
I love the effects that are possible through the power of fire, heat and smoke on clay. In order to alter these results I attach various items to each piece including foil, banana skins, wire wool and copper, to name but a few. In addition, I also add different oxides and salt to the firing to add subtle colour. Of course, these are not the only things I take into consideration as the weather and the type of wood used will create varying finishes.

Each of my smoke fired pieces are individually sculptured and then burnished, polished, at least three times using a simple metal spoon or a polished pebble. This causes the clay to compress and gives it a mirror-like finish. It is then coated in terra sigillata and buffed. I bisque fire my art to a low temperature of about 900 °C before they are placed in a barrel for either a long or short firing. Afterwards, I clean the artwork and polish it with beeswax in order to bring out the stunning surface detail.

LONG BARREL FIRING
First, I place fireproof bricks on the bottom of the barrel and then layer sawdust on top. I stack my art in the barrel with sawdust, straw, newspaper and wood, before I douse it with lighter fluid and set it on fire, with the lid on but not completely closed. As the fuel consumes the oxygen a reduction atmosphere is created and this causes the blacker pattern on the surface. As the ash falls away the atmosphere is re-oxidised and this creates lighter colours. This process takes approximately four to five hours to complete.

SHORT BARREL FIRING
Similar to a long barrel firing but here I only use newspaper so it only takes about half an hour to complete and produces wonderful sepia coloured markings.

Career Background

BORN            Hong Kong

In my early thirties, I decided to follow my passion for sculpting and ceramics, which had been growing for a number of years. I left my career in international marketing that had included consulting with major technology, dot-com and cosmetics companies, in addition to renovating and launching hotels. In 2003, I went back to college to become a sculptor and installation artist using ceramics as my medium, and devote myself to creating beauty.

EDUCATION
2005 – 2006    Higher National Diploma in Ceramics 3D Design, Thames Valley University / Richmond School of Art, Surrey, U.K.
2003 – 2005    Higher National Certificate in Ceramics 3D Design, Thames Valley University / Richmond School of Art, Surrey, U.K.
1991 – 1994    BSc Psychology & Management, Glasgow University, Scotland,
1987 – 1989    Four A’ Levels in Art, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Epsom College, Surrey, U.K.

ADDITIONAL COURSES
2009, 22 - 25 May - Alternative Raku Workshop with John Evans
2007, 13 - 14 October - Smoke Firing, Saggar Firing & Pit Firing Workshop with Jane Perryman
2007, 16 - 21 April -  “Creativity is Play” Course with Sandy Brown
2006, 2 & 9 December - Dreamweaver Advanced Intensive
2006, 16 & 23 Sept. - Dreamweaver Introduction Intensive
2006, 19 - 21 March - Heavy Metal Course with Pete Rogers
2006, 25 - 26 May - Heavy Metal Course with Pete Rogers
2006, Dec - February - Light Metal Course
2005, January - June - Photoshop Course

WORK EXPERIENCE
28 Jun - 5 Jul 2009 Assisted Tom Barnett with (Fire) Capsule at International Ceramics Festival, Aberystwyth, Wales, U.K.
23/24 October 2007    Assisted Tom Barnett during Theatre of Making - Fired Up at Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, U.K.
29 May - 3 June 2007    Assisted Tom Barnett during Appledore Arts Festival, Devon, U.K.
30 Jan - 3 June 2007    Sandy Brown’s Assistant, Devon, U.K.
3 - 10 January 2007    Assisted Françoise Dufayard with her presentation for the International Ceramics Festival in Aberystwyth, Wales, U.K.
13 - 16 July 2006    Assisted Françoise Dufayard during Art in Action, Oxford, U.K
27 - 30 October 2005    Assisted Svend Bayer with a wood firing, Devon, U.K.
14 - 17 July 2005    Assisted Gilda Westermann prior to and during Art in Action, Oxford, U.K.

Exhibition History

ARTHOUSE OPEN STUDIOS, 11-12 & 18-19 June 2011, East Sheen, London, U.K.
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR BRISTOL, 12 - 15 May 2011, Temple Meads, Bristol, U.K.
SKYLARK 2 GALLERY, Featured Artist, 25 April - 8 May 2011, Southbank, London, U.K.
LONDON POP UP GALLERY, 3 - 6 February 2011, Soho, London, U.K.
BLUEMATCHBOX GALLERY, 3 - 29 January 2011, Reading, Berks, U.K.
NEAL'S YARD GALLERIES, 2 December 2010 - 23 January 2011, Chelsea, London, U.K.
MORLEY GALLERY, 1 - 15 December 2010, Westminster Bridge Road, London, U.K.
ART IN CLAY: 14 Southern Pottery & Ceramics Show, 20 - 21 November 2010, Farnham Maltings, Surrey, U.K.
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR LONDON, 21 - 24 October 2010, Battersea Evolution, London, U.K.
NEAL'S YARD GALLERIES, 7 - 16 October 2010, Chiswick Place, London, U.K.
WANDSWORTH OPEN STUDIOS, 2 - 3 & 9 - 10 October 2010, Southfields, London, U.K.
MACKENZIE GALLERY, October 2010 - September 2011, Teddington, Surrey, U.K.
CANNIZARO OPEN STUDIOS, 24 - 25 September 2010, Wimbledon, London, U.K.
29 July - 15 August 2010 the.gallery@oxo,, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, U.K.
15 - 18 July 2010 ART IN ACTION,  Waterperry Gardens, OXON, U.K.
12 - 13 & 19 - 20 June 2010 ARTHOUSE OPEN STUDIOS, Barnes, London, U.K.
 24 - 30 May 2010, SKYLARKS IN THE PARK, Art Pavilion Mile End, London, U.K.
14 - 16 May 2010 AFFORDABLE ART FAIR BRISTOL, The Passenger Shed, Bristol, U.K.
8 -28 February 2010 SKYLARK 2 GALLERY, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, U.K.
 2 - 16 December 2009 MEMBERS' ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITION: London Potters, Morley Gallery, London, U.K.
21 - 22 November 2009 ART IN CLAY: 13 Southern Pottery & Ceramics Show, Farnham Maltings, Surrey, U.K.
26 - 28 June; 3 - 5 July 2009, Art in Action, London, U.K.
26 - 28 June; 3 - 5 July 2009, ARThouse, London, U.K
29 – 30 Novembe 2008 Studio Exhibition, Unit 5, 26 - 28 Priests Bridge, London SW14  8TA, U.K.
17 - 20 July 2008 Art in Action, Waterperry House, Waterperry, OXON OX33 1JZ, UK.
21/22; 28/29 June 2008 ARTHOUSE Open Studios, Unit 5, 26 - 28 Priests Bridge, London SW14 8TA, U.K.
7 - 10 June 2006 Richmond School of Art, Richmond Adult College, Surrey, U.K.
8 – 10 June 2005 Richmond School of Art, Richmond Adult College, Surrey, U.K.

Articles and Publications

International Ceramics Festival, CPA News, July/August 2011
Cannizaro Open Studios, Darling, Winter 2010
The Richardson Mews: a village within a village, Prospect, October 2010
New Members, LP News, April / May 2010
London Potters Annual Members' Exhibition, LP News, February / March 2010
Skylark Galleries, Inner Design, November 2009
New Members, CPA News, July/August 2009
All Fired Up, The Green, page 65, November 2008
Preview – ARThouse Open Studio, The Green, page 49, June 2008
Gallery, Ceramic Review, Issue 231, page 24, May/June 2008
Taking Time to Learn, Ceramic Review, Issue 228, page 44, November/December 2007
Ceramics at Art School 2006, Ceramic Review, Issue 222, page 33, November/December 2006.

Grants

May 2008    Mentoring Grant from Chinese Arts Centre for one-on-one session with Peter Hayes
Oct 2007    Training Bursary from Chinese Arts Centre towards attending Jane Perryman’s Smoke Firing Workshop
May 2007    Selected for the Chinese Arts Centre’s Professional Artist Development Scheme

Donations

TBC: Will donate a personalised dish for auction to raise funds for The Wisley Foundation. Created using sand from a bunker on The Mill, one of the three 9 Hole courses at The Wisley.

September 2009: Donated a personalised dish to The Skycar Expedition auction to raise funds for the African charity Alive & Kicking. Created using sand collecting from the Sahara during the expedition from London to Timbuktu.