About Me
I live and work in Birmingham, United Kingdom. I first discovered clay when I enrolled in an evening class, and fell in love with it as soon as I experienced the tactility of clay and its immediate response to my hands. I later obtained a City and Guilds certificate in Design and Craft in the context of ceramics.
I find my inspiration for both forms and surface in nature and life forms. The shapes and forms of seedpods, shells and other underwater creatures have influenced my vessel forms. The rhythm of the landscape such as the patterns created by wind blowing across the sand or the rhythmic gradation of the beach from sand to gravel arranged in carefully sorted bands by the tide are the inspiration for texture, colour and surface quality of my work.
All pieces are hand built from coils using stoneware crank clay body. I like contrast between rough and smooth, glazed and textured clay surfaces. I combine the contrasting techniques of layering, distressing the surface of pots by scratching and carving into clay and sometime burnishing to create a three dimensional texture using a series of different levels and depths. These are enhanced by the subsequent use of oxides and dry glazes after the bisque firing.
What I love about ceramics is that it starts as a soft lump and can become pretty much anything you want it to be. It is possible to make vessels and sculptural pieces so diverse in form and finish that it is sometimes hard to remember that they were all made from the same material. After the firing they are hard and durable and can survive centuries, but at the same time they are fragile and can be broken into pieces in a moment. The glazing process brings a final surprise to each of the pieces making each one unique with their own story.
I am a Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) and Associate Member of Craft Potters Association (CPA). I have been exhibiting and selling my work in the RBSA gallery in Birmingham where I have received the commendations and rewards for my work, in the John Noott Galleries in Broadway and LUX Gallery in Birmingham.
Past Exhibitions / Fairs
November 16, 2023 - January 6, 2024 RBSA Members and Associates Exhibition 2023 RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
October 6, 2023 - October 15, 2023 Broadway Arts Festival, Competition Finalist Exhibition Bretforton Theatrebarn, Worcestershire, UK
June 23, 2023 - June 25, 2023 Potfest by the Lake Compton Verney, Warwickshire,UK
April 11, 2023 - June 10, 2023 Solo Show RBSA Gallery, Birmingham,UK
November 18, 2022 - December 4, 2022 Contemporary Ceramics II General Office Gallery, Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK
November 17, 2022 - January 7, 2023 RBSA Members & Associates 2022/2023 RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
October 30, 2021 - October 31, 2021 Oxford Ceramics Fair St. Edward's School
Woodstock Road
Oxford
OX2 7NZ
July 10, 2021 - July 24, 2021 RBSA Candidates Exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham
November 21, 2019 - December 24, 2019 Members and Associates exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
October 5, 2019 - October 13, 2019 Birmingham Open Studios Art Rooms, Kings Heath, Birmingham, UK
June 20, 2019 - June 23, 2019 Earth and Fire International Ceramics Fair The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire, UK
May 23, 2019 - June 22, 2019 Prize exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
June 2, 2018 - June 29, 2018 RBSA at John Noott Gallery John Noott Gallery
Broadway
UK
April 15, 2018 - June 9, 2018 Solo Show RBSA Gallery
Birmingham
UK
November 23, 2017 - December 24, 2017 Members and Associates exhibition RBSA Gallery
Birmingham
UK
May 18, 2017 - June 10, 2017 Prize 2017 RBSA Gallery
Birmingham
UK
May 13, 2017 - June 11, 2017 RBSA at Rye Gallery Rye Art Gallery
Rye
UK
August 29, 2016 - October 8, 2016 Solo Show RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
December 30, 2015 - February 6, 2016 StART exhibition RBSA Gallery
Birmingham
UK.
December 12, 2015Christmas Crafts Market Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham, UK
December 3, 2015 - December 24, 2015 Members and Associates exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK.
May 7, 2015 - June 13, 2015 Prize exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK - Highly Commended
February 2, 2015 - March 28, 2015 Open all media exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
September 10, 2014 - September 20, 2014 Friends Reunited exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK - Prize Winner for whole collection
June 12, 2014 - July 12, 2014 Prize exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
March 19, 2014 - March 29, 2014 Friends exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK - Prize Winner for whole collection
November 27, 2013 - December 24, 2013 Open all media exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK - Highly Commended for whole collection
March 6, 2013 - April 6, 2013 Open all media exhibition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
August 1, 2007 - August 31, 2007 Group exhibition Gallery St. Benedict, Rovinj, Croatia