Pieces inspired by nature, balance and the beauty of Sanday and surrounding islands of Orkney.
About Me
My work is rooted in nature and I enjoy responding to the environment in which I live. The coastline has a strong spiritual and visual connection for me. It has been a place I turn to, to clear my mind and gather inspiration for my work. The island of Sanday provides a unique environment to work from and the shapes, patterns, colours and textures from things collected and photographed on the island, are captured in clay to produce individual and tactile stoneware pieces.
I mostly use hand building techniques, with pieces being either press moulded or slab built, as this gives me the freedom to create more organic forms and ‘torn’ edges. I like to experiment with a variety of clay bodies combined with under glaze colour, porcelain slip and oxides which are applied onto wet clay either as paint or as dried, crushed powder. Sand and shells from the beaches, as well as glass, are also added to many of my pieces to give even more texture. My work ranges in size from very small shell like bowls that can be held in the hand, to larger vessels and cylinders to echo what I find and collect on the shore.
Biography
1993: BA hons Ceramics with Glass, University of Central England, Birmingham
1994: PGCE Secondary Art Education
1994 – 2016: Teach/Head of Art
2011: MA Contemporary Art and Professional Practice, Essex University
2012: Set up my own studio in Suffolk
2016: Moved to Sanday, Orkney and set up my studio where I am now working as full time potter
2019: Joined the Scottish Potters Association
2020: Two private commissions
Galleries and Exhibitions
Art in Clay, Hatfield 2014
Suffolk Open Studios 2015 and 2016
Assistant to Robin Welch 2011 – 2016
George Farnham Gallery, Suffolk
Peter Brown Gallery, Westray
Sanday Community Craft Hub
Pier Arts Centre Stromness
The Old Library Kirkwall