Artists Statement

After gaining a BAHons Ceramics at Cardiff College of Art (now UWIC) in 1978, I made thrown domestic-ware for more than 15 years. On returning to college for an MA in 1994/5, I became interested in figurative work.

A main characteristic of my work is that I use fragmented forms, such as heads, busts, torsos and hands. By using only parts of the body and honing the image down to certain essential elements, I hope to focus the viewer more directly on the important areas of gesture or expression. Employing fragmented edges in the work also helps to create a feeling of life and vitality.

Each piece is individually made and unique. I use a combination of coiling, pinching and modelling techniques, building in a variety of stoneware clays including porcelain. Top firing temperature is 1240 in an electric kiln.

Female Forms

I have been exhibiting the female forms since 1995. They are all shapes and sizes; some lean and supple, others heavy and fleshy. My interest is not in creating the ‘perfect’ female body, but in exploring the subtlety of shape and emotion that ordinary women experience in their lives.

Smaller pieces are made in coloured porcelain and finished with a crackle glaze. Larger pieces are made in black earthenware, polished and waxed to finish.

Animal Characters

During my MA studies (1995, UWIC), I became interested in the use of animal imagery in art, leading to a final dissertation – ‘Beauty and the Beast’. I have continued researching this topic across art forms such as ceramics and sculpture; animation and film work.

A residency at the Rufford Ceramic Centre in 2003, gave me time to develop new work based on animal and bird forms. I try to gain as much information as I can about each animal, with concentrated periods of drawing before working in clay. My approach is to use highly detailed modelling and often incorporating a touch of anthropomorphism, to bring out the individual character in each subject.

Smaller pieces are made in fine quality coloured porcelain; larger pieces in a toasted stoneware clay.

Current Work

Figurative work. Female forms; animal and bird heads; anthropomorphic/mythical characters.

Work generally available from:
Contemporary Ceramics, London
Simon Drew, Dartmouth, Devon
The Model House, Llantrisant, South Wales
Church House Designs, Congresbury, near Bristol.

I have been a PT and visiting lecturer for Art, Design and Media courses in FE and HE.
I give illustrated talks, demonstrations and workshops to art groups, clubs etc.
I have experience of residencies in schools and art centres.

Technical Information

I fire in a top-loading electric kiln. The female forms are made in coloured porcelain with a clear crackle glaze fired to 1240; or black earthenware fired to 1100 and waxed to finish. The large animal characters are made in a stoneware clay and have oxide, coloured slip and glaze washes to pick out the detailed modelling. Fired to 1240. The smaller animal heads are made in coloured porcelain with oxide and glaze washes.

Background History

Teaching:
2005 – 2007 - North Devon College. Programme Manager for 1st Diploma Art and Design until July 2007. Now doing some hours on Alevel Art and Design and Foundation Degrees in Ceramics, Fine Art and Illustration.

2002-2005 - PT. Lecturer for City of Bristol College. Teaching on GNVQ Art and Design and OCN Art, Design and Media Courses.

1999-2002 - Visiting Lecturer for U.W.C.N. BAHons 3D Design and BAHons Animation.

2000 - Visiting Lecturer. University of Wolverhampton, BA Animation Course.

1997 - Visiting lecturer. Glamorgan Centre for Art and Design Technology - BTEC Diploma in Foundation Studies, BTEC Diploma in Lens Imaging and Adv. GNVQ Art and Design.

Freelance work in Industry:
1998-2005 Mould-maker and sculptor for Aardman Animations, Bristol – work on ‘Wallace and Grommit Films’; ‘Chicken Run’; ‘Creature Comforts’, and adverts.

1997-2000 Model-maker, set and props maker for Aaargh Animations, Cardiff – work on ‘Tales of the World’; ‘The Canterbury Tales’, ‘Gogs’, and adverts.

Exhibition History

Oct-Nov 1996 - The Model House, Llantrisant. Profile Exhibition.
February 1997 - The Central Library, Cardiff. 'Natural Rhythm'
March 1997 - The Washington Gallery, Penarth. Sculpture & Drawing
August 1997 - Crafts in the Bay, Cardiff. - 'Birds, Beasts and Fish.
August 1997 - The Red Gallery, Southsea. 'Body and Soul'
February 1998 - Contemporary Ceramics, London. 'Female Forms and Fragments'.
April - July 1999 - Linda Blackstone Gallery, Chelsea, London.
August 1999 - Contemporary Welsh Ceramics. Touring exhibition. ‘The cat scratched little Johnny’.
November 1999 - Welsh Drawing Biennial. Touring Exhibition.
November 1999 - Cecilia Colman Gallery, London. ‘The Human Form.’
March - May 2000 - Oriel Pendeitsh, Caernarfon, ‘Faces and Figures’.
April - May 2000 - Model House Craft Centre, Llantrisant, ‘Profile Exhibition’.
August 2000 - The White Gallery, Brighton, ‘The Figure Show’; The Morley Gallery, London, ‘Inspired Choices’; Crafts in the Bay, Cardiff, ‘Body Conscious’.
August 2001 - Contemporary Ceramics, London, ‘The Figure in Clay’;
Feb/March 2002 - The Wine Street Gallery, Devizes. ‘The Human Body’
June 2002 - ‘Eyepoppers’ Exhibition, Gloucester Folk Museum.
November 2002 -‘Flow’, Fisherton Mill Arts Centre, Salisbury.
Oct/Dec 2004 - Royal West of England Academy, Autumn Open Exhibition
July/August 2005 - 100 Devon Potters, The Burton Gallery, Bideford, Devon.

Residencies

2004 - Marlwood School, Bristol. Visiting artist.
2003 - Residency at Rufford Ceramic Centre, Notts. Oct and Nov.
2002 - Portsmouth Grammer school. Visiting artist.
1997 - Residency at Rubicon Community Dance Centre, Cardiff.

Publications

2001 - Sections about my work in ‘Paperclay and Other Additives’ by Anne Lightwood and ‘The Human Form in Clay by Jane Waller’. Crowood Press.
1998 - ‘The Potters’ Question and Answer Book’ A&C Black. ISBN 0-7136-5104-0