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My ceramic work explores the memories of my childhood and trips to the British coast. The lone person walking the dog along the water line, the variation of blues, the expanse of sea and the way the waves break depending on the tide and breeze. I am currently living in Cardiff and so often visit locations like Ogmore, Southerndown and Porthcawl. I was born in the North East of the UK but spent my childhood in Antigua (Caribbean) and returned for holidays and to visit family.
The work grew from my major project when I was completing my BA degree at the beginning of 2007 at the University of Plymouth. I was drawing inspiration from my Northumbrian roots and I kept returning to the colour and textures that I remembered from the coast. Then suddenly everything was coming together and I knew I was beginning to create work that was portraying what I felt, and still do, about the sea. Another constant inspiration for creating my work comes from the paintings and studies of the sea by Kurt Jackson. How he captures the movement, atmosphere and the changing textures of the coast keep my creative juices flowing and reminds me just how much I enjoy our British coastline, especially when I'm in my windowless studio!
Clay is such a versatile material. That is obvious when you look around and see all the things that have been made using it. With my work, the main focus is texture and colour. To achieve this, I blend stoneware slip (liquid clay) with my own recycled paper pulp to create ‘paper clay’ and then it is poured on to a plaster slab. Once formed, I then glaze the inside to give the option of holding liquid. Although they are fired to a high temperature, the space that was once occupied by paper fibres cause the piece to be porous.
The decoration is applied first because the clay is poured and then peeled off the plaster slab. I use coloured slip as a drawing tool to capture the energy and emotions from my memories. Unwashed sand is added to give a final focus to the piece. The sand is added before firing and so I am never sure how it will react or what colours will come from it, but that is what makes opening the kiln so exciting.
I'm happy to discuss commissions or about stocking work in your shop/gallery. Please email me any enquires via the Contact page.
I hope you enjoy the site!
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