Sussex Weft – a collection in the making
A new collection of pieces has been developed inspired by natural textiles
Current work
The Selkie – A collaborative exhibition
Over the last few months I have worked in collaboration with textile artist and weaver Imogen Di Sapia to produce a body of work that resonates with her beautiful woven fabric and hand died and spun yarn. In Feburary we held our collaborative exhibition & installation at Lokal+, in Helsinki, Finland. The project was a …
Subtle Changes
My firings use a gas kiln, in reduction, and such firings can always be a little unpredictable. I’ve become used to the subtle changes that occur from firing to firing and from shelf to shelf depending on the glaze mix, the temperature differences, the amount of reduction, the weather and even the whims of the kiln …
Space and Place
New landscapes I’m currently working towards two spring shows that will focus on place and the local landscape. Some of my work draws heavily on the Sussex countryside and the coastline for reference. For a couple of years I’ve been making some pieces that have elements influenced by buoys or ship’s floats that I often find on the beach at Newhaven and …
Objects Can Tell Stories
Objects, stories and lost spoons ‘Objects can tell stories’ is a tag line that I use for my work and its an idea I find I keep coming back to. Objects both found and made can speak to us in so many ways, evoking a real memory or suggesting something completely imaginary. It’s a thread running through my work, …
Every One is Different
Warm Chocolate I’ve been working on some new clay and glaze combinations lately, inspired by woodland walks (my previous post has more on this). My latest firing included pieces using these tones, one of which is a rather chocolatey colour clay combined with a milky speckled glaze. This combination seems to work particularly well. I took …
Pursuit of Intrigue
‘Pursuit of Intrigue’ is the title of a new short film made about my work. The film offers a sensitive portrait of my current work; focusing in on my ceramic and mixed media objects; dipping into my thought processes, taking a peek at how I work with clay and incorporate found materials. The film can be viewed online …
Photoshoot
Last week I had some of my work photographed by the expert craft photographer Yeshen Venema. The experience was both enlightening and enjoyable. I got to witness the photographer’s process from behind the scenes – seeing how he manipulated the light to provide an even coverage; preventing unwanted reflections and shadows. A lot of the …
Buoys and Vessels
I’ve been developing an idea based on buoys (the kind that are often used by boats, or on fishing nets) and particularly the broken and tangled versions I sometimes found washed up on the beach. I wanted to make something that took elements of the buoy and the open shape of a vessel. I also wanted to …
Green and Black
My latest firing included porcelain pieces glazed in the new green colours that I’ve been focusing on, along with the dark, almost black clay vessels that I make. The glaze has a small amount of iron oxide added to give it the green tint. A larger amount of iron is added to the same glaze for …
In the tea garden
Over the last few months, along with other things, I’ve been working on developing a new range of teabowls which will feature various complementary glazes. There’s something very special about the teabowl, with it’s handle-less form, that seems to make you engage with the vessel, and its contents, more intensely. It’s a simple concept but can be …
The Little Things
Right now I’m in the process of selecting work to show at the Contemporary Crafts Festival at Bovey Tracey in Devon which takes place next weekend. Some new pieces that are heading for the festival are all about the details and the little things. Teaspoons, thimbles, tiny bottles and surface decoration. Come and visit my stand at the show from …
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