Artist's Statement

I live on Exmoor and this is where my inspiration is drawn: from the organic of its landscape. My work is fairly personal and solitary and displays a simple and sometimes romantic narrative. I am particularly fascinated by the spirit of the indigenous red deer on Exmoor and the knowledge they have of their landscape, a knowledge that has lasted since pre-historic age.  

I am inspired by what I see directly in front of me rather than what I may find and learn from other sources.   My work is uncomplicated and I wish it to simply portray my love for this particular environment.

Current work and Availability

Handbuilt, earthernware; Semi-functional/sculptural; Tiles

Work generally available from:
Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
The Artshop , Abergavenny
Arkadia, Dunster, Somerset
The Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow
The Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
The Bircham Gallery, Norfolk

Technical Notes

It has always been important to me that viewers of my ceramics are left knowing without a doubt that my work is very definitely made from clay and I wish to demonstrate an overall rawness and immediacy.  In short, I like the clay to show itself.  

Technically I work as an earthenware ceramist firing to temperatures no higher than 1080degrees and I usually use red terracotta clay.  The surfaces of my work are created by multi-layering and I usually fire each piece at least three times within an electric kiln.  I create layers of colours and illustrations using slips, underglazes, glazes and finally lustres.  All my work is hand built apart from the use of a press mould for my plates.  Every piece I make is original.

Qualifications

Publications

2011 Western Morning News, (January 10th) ‘I wanted to find the Emperor’
2010 ‘Exmoor’ Magazine- Spring Issue, 'Walk in Clay'

1995 Review, Seattle USA
1994 The Stranger Magazine Seattle USA
1993 World of Interiors (Picked as one of the best of the graduating British Designers)
1992 Design Magazine (Picked as one of the best of the graduating British Designers)
1988 Ceramic Review

Exhibition History

Sept 2011: Group show. Twenty Twenty Gallery, Much Wenlock, Shropshire
June - July 2011: ‘Original Tweets, Group show. Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow
May - July 2011: ‘Birds of a Feather’ Group show. The Yew Tree Gallery, Cornwall
Apr 2011: ‘Fantastic Beasts’, Group show. Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow
Jan 2011: ‘I wanted to find the emperor’ Solo Show - The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh

Dec 2010: ‘Beautiful Pots’ Group Show, Exeter, Devon
Nov 2010: ‘Present Makers’ Group Show, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton, Devon
Oct 2010: ‘Into the Trees’ Group exhibition, Dulverton, Somerset
Sept 2010: ‘The Shape of Magic’ Group show, The Artshop, Abergavenny
June 2010: Open Studio, Exmoor
March 2010: New works, Broomhill Art, Devon

November 2009: Ceramics at the Castle, Exeter; Exeter Open Studios
August 2009: Group Show WPA, Red Earth Gallery, Bickleigh; WPA Potters Market Exeter Quay
June 2009: Devon Art Trek (North Devon Festival)

November 2007: 'My Life With Clay' Solo Exhibition, Dulverton, Somerset
2006: 100 Great Devon Potters Bideford, Devon

1995: Insights Gallery. Seattle, USA
1993/94/95: Seattle Clay Studios, Seattle USA
1993: Horniman Museum, London
1992: Cobalt Gallery, Palo Alto, California USA
1992 & 93: Lethaby Gallery, London
1992: Young Designers Exhibition, Islington Design Centre, London Top Marks. Best of the London Institute, Central St Martins, London
1991: French Interiors, London
1988: Smiths Gallery, London; Black Boy Gallery, West Wycombe