Artists Statement

I have been making sculptural ceramic vessels and forms for over ten years and currently have my studio in a converted Victorian Cotton Mill in Lancashire. With huge windows overlooking distant hills it has become a perfect, though chilly, place to work!

I studied Three Dimensional Design at the Manchester Metropolitan University specializing in ceramics. It was during my second year of study that I was selected to take part in an exchange program to study ceramics at Blaker College in Norway. It was here in the isolation of rural Norway in the depths of winter that my true love of ceramics blossomed.

I have a love of nature and I am heavily inspired by the beautiful natural structures and textures found in plants, bark and corals, and it is this natural theme that forms the backbone of my work.

When making I design with clay allowing the material to partly dictate the direction the piece takes rather than staring blankly at an empty page in a sketch book! The outcome may not always be successful but invariably it leads to something more. I aim for the pieces to have a dialogue between delicacy and solidity and texture and form. The pieces are constructed from tubes or cones of clay and organized in a structured formation. The piece may be multi- layered or a simple one-layer vessel. This method of construction creates an intricate texture and articulation of surface. Texture rather than colour has always been a key motif in my work and I utilize colour very occasionally preferring a soft wash of oxides.

The majority of my year is spent in my studio designing and making. Though I love the quiet atmosphere, which allows me to work uninterrupted for hours at a time, it can sometimes be a lonely experience. To counter balance this solitary existence I spend a few weeks a year participating in art and specialist ceramic events around the country. Art In Action, Potfest,Art in Clay are among my favourites. It’s an opportunity to meet and socialise with my contemporaries and talk about my work with the public.

Since setting up in 1997 I have exhibited throughout the United Kingdom as well as America and Europe. My work is in the collection of The City Gallery, Manchester and William Ismay's private collection since donated to The Yorkshire Museum.

Current Work

Work Generally Available from:
Ruthin Craft Centre
Old Courthouse Gallery
FG2
Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery

Technical Information

Electric kiln. Maximum temperature 1120. Mostly oxides but occasionally barium glazes.

Exhibition History

2-7 October 2007 Origin. Somerset House,London.Week One
3-5 August 2007 Art In Clay. Hatfield House,Hertfordshire
27-29 July 2007 Potfest In The Park. Penrith
19-22 July 2007 Art In Action. Demonstrator,Waterperry
19/20 May 2007 Clayart. Rufford
Nov-Jan 2006 Rufford Craft Centre. Allure
3-8 Oct 2006 Origin. Somerset House, London.Week One
4-6 August 2006 Art in Clay. Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
3/4/5 June 2006 The Contemporary Craft Fair. Mill Marsh Park,Bovey Tracey
Nov-Jan 2005 Bluecoat Design Centre. Liverpool, Christmas show
Oct-Nov 2004 The Gallery, Ruthin Craft Centre. Ruthin
Jun-Aug 2004 Roger Billcliffe Gallery. Glasgow, Design 2004
Apr 2004 Godfrey and Watt. Harrogate
Jul-Aug 2003 The Bessemer Gallery. Sheffield, Blue
Nov-Jan 2002 Shipley Art Gallery. Gateshead, Christmas Present
Oct 2001 Chelsea Crafts Fair. Week one
Jul-Sept 2001 Godfrey and Watt. Harrogate, Drawn to the Sea
Mar-Apr 2001 Grace Barrand Design Centre. Surrey, Too Hot To Handle
Aug-Oct 2000 Beatrice Royal Contemporary Art. Eastleigh, Wind and Wave
May-Jun 2000 Ferrers Gallery. Staunton Harold, Interiors
Jan-Feb 2000 Roger Billcliffe Gallery. Glasgow, solo show
Jun-Jul 2000 Brewery Arts. Cirencester
May-Jul 1999 The craft and Design Centre. Leeds, solo show

Collections

Purchased 2001 City Art Gallery, Manchester
Purchased 1997 William Ismay’s private collection since donated to The Yorkshire museum

Press

Mar 2007 BBC Homes and Antiques
Nov 2006 The Sunday Times, Malta
Nov 2003 The Mail On Sunday, You Magazine
Oct 2001 The Sunday Times, Style Magazine
Jul 2000 Livingetc, Bright New things
May 2000 Ceramic Review, Exhibition review
Apr 1999 Hanatsubaki, Japan
Nov/Dec 1998 Illustrated Gardens
Aug 1998 The Herald
Aug 1997 The Scotsman