Artist's Statement

'The potter’s wheel is what first attracted me to working with clay, and it is central to the way I work. Pieces are usually altered, either directly on the wheel, or at later stages of the making, but always when the clay is flexible, giving the work character and movement. Pieces are salt fired in a wood fuelled kiln over 24 hours to 1300 degrees centigrade. The decorative and firing techniques used aim to retain the vitality of the freshly made vessels and to give the surfaces subtlety and depth.

Inspiration comes from a multitude of sources - the area I live in, its mountains and the ever varying colours on them as the light shifts. From found objects such as stones, bones and shells and from the making process itself, the tactile nature of clay and time spent experimenting with form and surface.'

Current Work

In 1999, after three years of renovating the once derelict gate-lodge, I moved to my current studio and showroom. Here, I specialize in individual thrown and altered forms.

My current body of work has evolved from an investigation of museum objects. The interplay and changed status of items that were once functional but are now preserved under glass and viewed on an aesthetic basis intrigues me. The strong shapes of tools from the prehistoric age inspire much of my recent work with axe heads being a particular influence. These pieces are wood fired and salt-glazed to 1300 degrees centigrade. I built my current wood fired salt glaze kiln in 2006.

Work generally available from:
Keane on Ceramics, Pier Road, Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland  
Sliding Rock, Spiddal, Co. Galway, Ireland
Saltbox Gallery, Hemsley, North Yorkshire, UK
Mustard Seed Gallery, 124 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601, USA
Gourmet Pots, Schull, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Other Information:
Classes are available on an ongoing basis at my studio.
I am interested in hearing about opportunities for lectures, demonstrations and workshops.

Please get in contact for more information or to be placed on my emailing list.

Technical Information

The majority of the work is fired in 50 cubic feet wood fired salt kiln. The kiln fires to 1300 degrees centigrade over 24 hours using a mixture of hard and soft wood off cuts from a local sawmills.

History, Memberships and Awards

Biography
2010 MA History of Art and Architecture, University of Limerick
2009 – Present, Assistant Lecturer at Limerick School of Art and Design.
2006 -  Built current wood fired kiln
2005 - present - Visiting lecturer on the Crafts Council of Ireland Pottery Skills Course in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
2004 - Recipient of the Michael Casson memorial award, Art in Clay, Hatfield House.
2003 - Recipient of the CPSI / Scarva pottery supplies travel bursary.
2003 - Assistant to Joe Finch on building a 3 chamber kiln during the International Ceramics Festival, Aberystwyth.
2003 - Demonstrating at resident workshops with Marcus O'Mahony.
2001 - Commenced working with the Wood Fire Salt Collective on the invitation of Marcus O'Mahony.
1999 - Established current studio and showroom in Glen of Aherlow, Co. Tipperary where she began working with wood fired salt glaze, (building her current wood fired kiln in 2006.)
1994 - established studio pottery in Co. Wexford making reduction fired stoneware and selling through national craft fairs and gift shops.
1994 - BA (Hons) Ceramics, Cardiff University, studied closely with tutor Mick Casson who proved to be a mentor and an inspiration. During college years worked with a number of potters in France and Ireland making raku and earthenware.

Memberships
- Wood Fire Salt Collective: A group of potters working together to make and promote woodfired salt glaze.
- Ceramics Ireland
- Craft Potters Association, Associate Member.
- Visual Artists Ireland, professional member

Awards
2009 First prize, Ceramics (traditional), RDS National Crafts Competition
2004 Michael Casson Memorial award, Art in Clay, Britain
2003 CPSI/ Scarva Pottery Supplies travel bursary, CPSI, Ireland
1996 National Crafts Competition, RDS, Cert of Merit, Ireland

Selected Exhibitions

Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 - Collect, Saatchi Galleries, London; Irish Pavilion, World Expo, Shanghai, China; Irish Craft Portfolio, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny & Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin
2009 - Prize-winners exhibition, RDS National Crafts Competition, Dublin and Touring, Ireland
2008 - SOFA, Navy Pier, Chicago, USA
2007 - 17 Prime Makers, Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin and Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales; Clay 14, Woodbury Studio Gallery, Exeter, Devon, England
2006 - Collectors at Hunt Museum, Limerick, Ireland; Collectors at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny, Ireland; Autour de la Table, Giroussens, France
2005 - Collectors at Hunt Museum, Limerick, Ireland; Christmas Presence, RDS, Dublin, Ireland
2004 - Christmas Presence, RDS, Dublin, Ireland; Bakers Dozen, Roundhouse Gallery, Derbyshire, England; Ceramic Fire Works, Tipperary Institute, Thurles, Ireland; 10 Years Later.., St David's Hall, Cardiff, Wales
2002 - Winners, National Craft Competition, RDS, Dublin and Touring, Ireland
2001 - Winners, National Craft Competition, RDS, Dublin and Touring, Ireland
2000 - Winners, National Craft Competition, RDS, Dublin and Touring, Ireland

Solo exhibition
2009 - Hay Makers Gallery, Hay-on-Wye, England
2006 - Rufford Ceramics Centre, Nr Newark Notts, England

Public Collections

Department of Foreign Affairs / Irish Embassies Collection
Hibernian Collection