Artist's Statement

I am inspired by natural, rounded forms, symbolic designs used by ancient cultures, and the texture and pattern of natural objects like pebbles, fossils, minerals and shells.
The larger vessel-like pieces are coil-built onto a press-moulded base, the smaller pebble-like forms are made by joining pinch pots and then beating and scraping them into shape with tools. Decorative details are created by pressing fossils, shells and handmade stamps into the clay. I also mask areas with strips of paper and texture the clay surface.

Current Work

Unique, hand-built decorative pieces for the interior in a variety of clays – stoneware, earthenware and porcelain. Fired at earthenware temperatures.

Work Generally Available from:
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Royal Exchange Theatre Craftshop, Manchester
Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool
The Wall, Wakefield, thewallartgallery@googlemail.com
Sea Pictures Gallery, Sudbury, Suffolk.
Serena Hall Gallery, Southwold, Suffolk

Technical Information

I apply a barium carbonate glaze (containing copper carbonate to produce a range of blues, purples and greens – the shade of blue is also affected by the different clays I use) over inlaid copper oxide and fire the work in an electric kiln at 1054ºc. I apply the glaze in layers and fire the work up to 4 times until I achieve the desired result.

Background History

1999 - Graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in Decorative Arts, specialising in ceramics.
2000 - 2010 Taught pottery classes to a wide range of ages and abilities at 'Hands On Pottery', Sherwood, Nottingham
2000 - 2002 - Worked as a volunteer to the Keeper of Decorative Arts at Nottingham Castle Museum.
2001 - Completed a residency at Rufford Ceramics Centre, Nottinghamshire
2001 - Worked as an assistant to potter Karin Hessenberg.
2002 - Completed a 7307 Certificate in FE Teaching.
2003 - I was awarded a business start up grant and loan from the Prince’s Trust, and set up ‘Emma Williams Ceramics’.
2008 - Became a member of Design Factory - an organisation committed to supporting the development and success of designer/makers in the East Midlands.

Exhibition History

- 2010 "and a Partridge in a Pear Tree" The Creative Greenhouse Christmas Gift Shop, Rufford Craft Centre, Rufford Abbey Country Park, Nottinghamshire
- 2010 'Make', The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
- 2010 Marketplace Contemporary Craft Fair, Mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham.
- 2010 Melbourne Festival Art Trail, Melbourne, Derbyshire.
- 2010 'Art By The Sea 2010', St Edmunds Hall, Southwold, Suffolk.
- 2010 'Sea Nature', Sea Pictures Gallery, Well Lane, Clare, Suffolk.
- 2010 'Fossils: Images in Stone', The Haven Gallery, 2 South Square, Boston, Lincolnshire.
- 2010 The Art Market, Holmfirth Indoor Art Market, Hollowgate, Holmfirth.
- 2010 SOCK, Loughborough Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough, Leicestershire.

- 2009 'Withers Gallery at Wolterton Hall', Wolterton Hall, Norwich, Norfolk.
- 2009 Winterfest Art 09, Thoresby Courtyard, Thoresby Park, Newark, Nottinghamshire.
- 2009 Southwell Minster Winter Craft Fair, Southwell Minster, Southwell, Nottinghamshire.
- 2009 'Earth and Fire', Rufford Abbey Country Park, Nottinghamshire.
- 2009 'Nottingham Summer Gift and Craft Market', Nottingham.
- 2009 'Melbourne Festival Art Trail', Derbyshire
- 2009 'Ceramics in the Round', The Dome, Buxton, Derbyshire
- 2009 'Ceramics Collection', The Art Works Galleries, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

- 2008 Christmas Craft Fair, The Natural World Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln
- 2008 'Winterfest Art 08', Thoresby Xmas Art Market, Nottinghamshire
- 2008 'Harley Christmas Art Market', The Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire
- 2008 'Rufford Unwrapped', Rufford Craft Centre Nottinghamshire
- 2008 'Christmas Gift Market', View From the Top, Nottingham
- 2008 'Swell', The Gallery West Kilbride, West Kilbride, Ayrshire.
- 2008 Wirksworth Festival - Arts Marketplace, Wirksworth, Derbyshire.
- 2008 'Earth and Fire' Ceramics Festival, Rufford Country Park, Nottinghamshire
- 2008 'Ceramics in the Round', The Dome, Buxton, Derbyshire

- 2007 Rufford Presents, Rufford Craft Centre Gallery, Nottinghamshire
- 2007 Contemporary Craft Fair, Mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham.
- 2007 'Winterfest' - Thoresby Christmas Art Market, Thoresby Gallery, Thoresby,    Nottinghamshire
- 2007 Southwell Minster Winter Craft Fair, Southwell Minster, Southwell, Nottinghamshire
- 2007 'Earth and Fire' Ceramics festival, Rufford Country Park, Nottinghamshire
- 2007 Fired Up, Ferrers Gallery, Staunton Harold, Leicestershire
- 2007 'Celebrating Creativity!', View From the Top Gallery, Nottingham

- 2006 'Christmas Presents', Halifax Visitor Centre and Art Gallery, Piece Hall, Halifax, Yorkshire
- 2006 Mixed Christmas Exhibition, Friar Lane Gallery, Nottingham
- 2006 Going Potty, Royal Exchange Theatre Craft Shop, Manchester
- 2006 Patchings Art Festival, Patchings Arts Centre, Calverton, Nottinghamshire
- 2006 Spring Exhibition, The Hunter Gallery, Long Melford, Suffolk

- 2005 Open Exhibition, The City Gallery, Leicester
- 2005 Gorgeous Gifts for Christmas, View From the Top Gallery, Nottingham

- 2004 Im-Print, The Beetroot Tree Gallery, Draycott, Derbyshire
- 2004 Ceramic Open 2004, The Bracknell Gallery, South Hill Park Arts Centre,  Bracknell, Berkshire
- 2003 Winter Exhibition 2003, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
- 2003 Open Exhibition, City Gallery, Leicester
- 2002 Made at Rufford, Rufford Country Park Craft Centre, Nottinghamshire
- 2001 Lady Bay Open Studios, Lady Bay, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire
- 2000 Open Exhibition, The City Gallery, Leicester
- 1999 The New Designers Exhibition Part One, The Business Design Centre, London