Current Work

My work reflects a fascination with natural and marine forms, and female figures and heads.  I combine flowing lines and sweeping curves in the slab construction of my barium glazed pieces.

Inspiration for my marine pieces started in my early childhood.  I was born on the south coast of England and my formative years were often spent on the beach splashing in the sea, collecting shells and dipping into rock pools. I’m still a compulsive beachcomber and hoard collections of pebbles, shells and other natural forms such as seed heads and fossils. These have inspired sculptural pieces, often to grow plants in or over, or to use as water features.  My seahorses, sea serpents and fish in rich tones of blue evoke the underwater world.  Delicate sea urchin forms complement these shapes in pale shades of white, mauve and turquoise.
 
The elegant female figures and heads were originally inspired by the geishas in Japanese prints, and the heads and figures of Modigliani, Picasso and Gustav Klimt.  These have evolved into more contemporary figures and heads with a hint of attitude. Occasionally I develop an idea from studies of historical costumes, to explore shape, texture and decorative detail. 

Work generally available from:
Royal Exchange Gallery, Manchester
Cry of The Gulls, Fowey
Gallery on The Square, St Ives
Chatton Gallery, Northumberland

Technical Information

I work from thin slabs of white or buff stoneware clay bodies, which are sometimes impressed with texture from manmade or natural objects, before cutting, forming and assembling into the finished piece.  My methods of cutting and assembling clay are similar to dressmaking and the use of wax resist and surface pattern are related to textile design.  Decoration is also added at the completed stage either as applied textured detail or as surface pattern with slips, oxides, resists and glazes. Sometimes beaded jewellery, hatpins and hair adornments are added after the glaze firing.  
The scale of my work varies from robust garden sculptures and planters in warm rustic colours and natural surfaces, to finer, smaller pieces for interior setting, often in a range of whites, purples, blues and turquoises.  
My work is fired in an electric kiln to between 1220ºC and 1280ºC.  The high-fired pieces are ideal for being displayed outdoors as well as inside.

History

Qualifications:
1967 - BA Hons. in 3D Design (Ceramics) Manchester College of Art and Design
1968 - ATD Birmingham University.

Employment:
1968 - 2003 - Various full and part-time teaching posts in Art & Design, specialising in Ceramics, in Secondary and Adult Education.
1998 - Full time ceramic artist.

Recent Exhibitions

Sept 2011 Cymru Contemporary Crafts, Conwy Quay, N Wales
Sept 2011 Wirksworth Festival Makers Market, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
July 2011 Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest, Penrith
June 2011 Ceramics in the window Tony and Guy, Macclesfield
June 2011 Keramiekmarkt Dwingeloo, Dwingeloo, Blesdijke, Holland
May 2011 Clay2Day, Keukenhof Castle, Lisse, Holland
April – May 2011 Clay Connections Exhibition, Royal Exchange Theatre, St Anns Square Manchester
Oct 2010 East Cheshire Hospice Art Fair Town Hall, Macclesfield
Sept 2010 Cheshire Open Studios, 16 Vale Head, Handforth, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 3BP
Sept 2010 Wirksworth Festival, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
July 2010 Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest, Penrith
April – Jun 2010 Garden Art Exhibition, Showborough House, Gloucs
May 2010 International Ceramic Market, Swalmen, Holland
April – May 2010 A Celebration of Art, Maynard School, Exeter
May 2010 Keramiek Dagen Gouda, Holland
May 2010 Contemporary Craft and Art Event, Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool
April 2010 Lark Lane Police Station, Liverpool, L17 8UU
March 2010 Contemporary Craft & Art Event Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool
Feb 2010 Heritage Market, Liverpool, L3 0AN

Sept 29 – Oct 28 2007 - Two Ladies, The Ropewalk, Barton on Humber 
15, 16  Sept 2007 - Keramisto, Milsbeck, Holland 
2 Sept 2007 - De Stegge, Winterswijk, Holland
21 July – 27 Oct 2007 - Sea and Shore Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe 
3, 4, 5 Aug 2007 - Art in Clay, Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
27, 28, 29 July 2007 - Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest, Cumbria

Sept 2006 - Ceramics in the City - Geffrye Museum, London
August 2006 - Art in Clay - Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
July 2006 - Potfest in the Park - Hutton in the Forest, Cumbria
June 2006 - Ceramics South East - Maidstone, Kent
June 2006 - Potfest in the Peak - Bakewell, Derbyshire
May 2006 - ClayArt - Denbigh, North Wales
Feb. - April 2006 Project leader working with Carers making ceramic teapot for permanent collection. - Manchester Art Gallery

Sept 2005 - Ceramique c'est la Fete, Cordes sur Ciel, France
Sept. 2005 - Keramisto, Milsbeek, Holland
Aug 2005 - 'Shipston on Sea', Where I fell in love Gallery, Shipston on Stour
July 2005 - Cheshire Artists Network Exhibition, Norton Priory, Cheshire
July 2005 - Ceramics Fair Wales, Tredegar House, Newport
June 2005 - Potfest in the Peak, Bakewell, Derbyshire
May 2005 - ClayArt, Denbigh, North Wales
April 2005 - Ceramics and Pottery Fair, Waddesdon Manor, Berkshire
April 2005 - Seacraft, Ropewalk Gallery, Barton on Humber
March 2005 - Artist & Designer Fair, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton