Landscape Vessel

 

I am a ceramicist working in South Devon. My studio is situated on the edge of Dartmoor, a quiet space to develop my practise. I make vessels with a timeless simplicity, inspired by the ancient potters who remained closely attuned to their natural environment.

 

The vessels are handbuilt from black, red or white stoneware clays, using the pinch and coil methods. These ancient techniques produce a different quality to wheel thrown work. Using only a few simple tools, the process is slow and rhythmic. The form of each vessel grows organically, allowing space to think and modify. Each coil is finely pinched out, before a further is added, in a rhythm that creates a distinct pattern.

 

I use simple, wooden tools to gradually expand the form from the inside. I coat the vessel surface with thin layers of slips and glazes. The pattern left by the pinching process is accentuated as the glaze pools into the hollows. The colours are subtle, with occasional flashes of vibrant colour, all to be found within nature’s palette.

 

Pieces may be fired several times, until a particular quality of colour and texture is achieved. Clay has a memory. Every mark and impression in the soft material is preserved in the finished piece. The intimate making process remains.

 

I have an MA in Ceramics from The Royal College of Art. Prior to this I gained a first class honours degree from West Surrey College of Art and Design. On leaving college, I was awarded a Crafts Council Setting Up Grant, and my ceramics has been featured in exhibitions worldwide. Today, I am continuously investigating forms, glazes, textures and firing techniques.

Coiled and pinched black stoneware clay, oxide slips and glazes

Ceramic

20x27x20cm