I have recently returned to pottery after a break of about 20 years and really enjoy making curved shapes using pinch pot and coiling techniques. My love of clay goes back to childhood when I attended a children’s pottery class. My parents still have a large collection of my early works in their house, some of which I would prefer not to be on display! My first Saturday job as a teenager was at the same class, helping to turn pinch pots into rabbits and dinosaurs, however I did not continue with this hobby after I left home and went to University.

Although I stopped making things from clay myself, I continued to love ceramic pots and sculptures and incorporated this into my MA in Art History. My project looked at Italian Renaissance terracotta sculptures and I love the element of jeopardy which comes into making things from clay. The number of things which could go wrong in all stages of the making process is fascinating. Pieces can break when air drying, explode in the kiln, and glazes can crack or stick to the shelf or come out a completely different colour than expected. The greatest of care needs to be taken to avoid disaster and this is equally the case whether they are a Mother’s Day present made by a child, a sculpture of a saint made by a Renaissance sculptor, or a leaf made by me!

I am looking forward to displaying my pieces during Art Weeks and I would love to hear any feedback from visitors.

Decorative shapes made by pinching, stretching and coiling.