Artist's Statement

My practice as an artist has become holistic. I am learning to look at my life as the art rather than the reverse.  

 This current body of work is the result of my need for a physical element of self expression, which is not a need exclusive to artists but to all people. Children feel free to express themselves through play and crafts but sadly at some point most of us lose this unselfconscious liberation. Laying dormant for years, being satisfied with the endless supply of 'dummies' our consumer society lays in front of us, we often reawaken half way through our life as the reality of our mortality starts to murmur.

What concerns me is: What do we miss in the mean time? What are the consequences of our absence?

Current Work

Each piece of my work is a dissected section of a whole form. Once I have the initial, more traditional vessel on the wheel, I work in to the clay and add slips, as the piece is moving. Once the body is firm, I cut it in two with the wheel still in motion. I am currently using underglaze colours and oxides to enhance the already layered and worn surface. Once fired I continue to work back into the clay and usually fire several times.

Work generally available from:
- Ridgeway Gallery, Bakewell www.theridgewaygallery.co.uk
- or Please contact me directly

Courses:
Please contact me at: The Ceramics Studio, Bermondsey

History and Background

Background:
Leyla Folwell trained in Ceramics at Loughborough University in 2000.  She has exhibited widely with her ceramics including Rufford Country Park and won several awards including Ceramics Gold - Craft and Design Awards in 2009.  The technical nature of her degree led her to many technician and teaching roles including Brighton University.

Folwell is passionate about sharing the sensual experience of working with clay and running workshops has now become part of her own practice in which she studies people and their happiness.  Her practice, which she describes as holistic, incorporates drawing, photography, ceramics, print-making, origami and most importantly continual research in the human condition and theology.

History:
2013 Creator of The Ceramics Studio Bermondsey http://theceramicsstudio.co.uk/
2012 Community Artists at Art in the Park http://www.artinthepark.co.uk/
2011 Local Pottery Project Leader
2010-2008 Technical Demonstrator at Brighton University
2007 Product Advisor Potterycrafts, Battersea
2005 Artist in Residence King’s School, Worcester
2004 Part time teaching ceramics at Leicester College
2004 Supervising the ceramics workshop at Leicester College
2004 Teaching evening classes at Loughborough University
2003 BA(Hons) Ceramic Design, Loughborough University

Exhibitions

June 08 ‘Earth & Fire’, Rufford Country Park
April 08 ‘Ceramics in the Round’ Buxton
August 2007 'Rufford & Art' in Clay at Hatfield
July 2007 V & A for London Potters
June 2005 Earth & Fire, Rufford Craft Centre, with Melbourne Contemporary Arts
July 2005 Ceramics South East, Aylesford, Kent
Nov 2005 The 9th Southern Pottery Show, The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey
April 2005 'Potfest' Bristol, Easter Compton
Dec 2004 'Christmas Show' Longford, Eire
Oct 2004 'What's New' at Cupola Gallery, Sheffield
Sept 2004 'Blue Sky' at Melbourne Contemporary Arts
August 2004 Art in Clay, Hatfield House, Hatfield with Loughborough University
June 2004 Earth & Fire, Rufford Craft Centre with Melbourne Contemporary Arts
Jan 2004 City Open Exhibition, Leicester City Gallery
Sept 2003 Unsung Melbourne Contemporary Arts
Nov 2003 Stand at Maylords Shopping Centre, Hereford
Dec 2003 Stand at Maylords Shopping Centre, Hereford
June 2003 Earth & Fire, Rufford Craft Centre with Loughborough University

Publications

March 2005 Craftsman Magazine, 'Leyla Folwell at Art in clay'

Awards

2009 Craft & Design Magazine - Gold Award for Ceramics 
Judges Commendation London Potters Open 2006
2004 Art in Clay - Highly Commended