I will be exhibiting a new collection of work made in the last 6 months at my studio, which is tucked away in an isolated valley in the Chilterns, approx. 4 miles from Watlington. Jackie Hughes, a contemporary artist, will also be exhibiting with me, and showing a collection of paintings in the other half of the studio. The studio is large and airy, with multiple windows and doors to both sides, and we will be admitting visitors singly or in family groups only, and anyone waiting to view the work will be very welcome to have a self-guided tour around the garden, or sit on one of the many seats or benches sited in viewpoints around the garden.
There will also be a couple of examples of my work on view in The Granary Delicatessen in Watlington, and one of Jackie's paintings will be showing in The Granary Cafe.
I am a Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and I have been working with ceramics for 25 years. I have been specialising in making pit-fired work since graduating with a degree in ceramics, 15 years ago. My hand built and burnished ceramics derive their colours and patterns from firing with organic material in a large open pit, and each piece that emerges from the ashes is totally unique. I am inspired and intrigued by the fact that the beauty of nature itself seems to have been encapsulated into the work when the elements interact, consequently I am constantly striving to create forms that mirror the simplicity and balance evident all around us in the natural world, so that surface and form become seamlessly unified, as in nature.
In my life I enjoy taking risks, going on long journeys of discovery, and travelling to places where few people venture. By working in this way I am able to find the same challenges and adventure in my creative life, and I hope that my work conveys and retains the excitement and enthusiasm I feel when I am making it.