Artists Statement

Stylish, contemporary porcelain Wall Pieces and bowls depicting strikingly beautiful areas of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The landscape of the Lower Derwent Valley has a huge influence on my work with its characteristic wide-open skies and flat fields dissected by a network of dykes and hedges. A copse of silver birches clustered on the riverbank, spindly white trunks reflected in the river, has provided a rich source of inspiration over the past few years.

In the winter months the Ings flood and create vast horizontal bands of water bounded by ragged lines of trees and weeds. Impressions gained from walking and sketching are developed into porcelain panels, painting with slips and glazes. My new abstract “Flood” series concentrates on patterns created the dynamic nature of flooding: - the way lapping water sifts and arranges accumulated debris or the ephemeral reflections of grasses and tree trunks poking through the water - depicted in sumptuous deep texture.

Coastal Wall Pieces feature Spurn Point and the Humber estuary. Here again I am attracted to the wide areas of water, sky and land, which are constantly on the move and in a delicate state of transient equilibrium. Impressions of rain lashed and windswept landscapes are depicted on the bowls, echoing the landscape themes.

Current Work

I make contemporary porcelain pieces for the home - candlesticks, vases and bowls. Porcelain is a fabulous medium - sensuously smooth to throw and with a density that allows for fine turning of graceful curves. My work is characterised by simple forms and pared back colour which together provide a foil for my love of richly textured surfaces. The intricate patterning on natural forms such as pollen and sea urchins provide inspiration for decoration. The pieces are co-ordinated to work well in groups of different sizes and shapes or in a bold linear arrangement of a single design.
Old fashioned Roses Range                  
I love the full, flat blooms and intensely sweet scent of old fashioned roses. The double shrub rose, Charles de Mills has an intriguing spiralling structure of densely packed petals contained within an outer cup.
Sketching the rose gave me some appreciation of its complex form that I set about recreating in porcelain, building up layer upon layer of paper-thin petals. Over a hundred petals can go into the making of a single wall piece. A low firing to 1100 degrees leaves
the bare porcelain with a slightly pink tinge and draws attention to the deep relief.
A new twist to the theme is given by the use of dry textured black clay. In it’s raw state it is chocolaty brown and matures to black when fired at high temperatures. Black roses add a chic embellishment to white porcelain bowls
and vases, giving them a contemporary urban edge – as if dressed for dinner.
Old Fashioned Roses wall pieces are available with white or black roses. Unashamedly romantic, they are lavishly adorned with sprays of roses in deep textural detail.
A simple motif of two white roses is used to decorate bowls and vases.
The new shallow oval bowl has a wide flat base, thrown on the wheel then altered to create the form. 
Old Roses Jewellery    
Purity, strength and beauty – the qualities of fine bone china – white clay that fires to a matte finish with a high degree of translucency. As with antique teacups, if light chances to shine behind the work, it will glow with a seductive luminosity. Silver settings give sparkle and life to this range of romantic flamboyant jewellery that makes a stylish statement about the wearer.
 
Inspired by the spiralling form of the old English shrub rose, Charles de Mills, the roses incorporate massed layers of china. Strips of clay are rolled out by hand again and again, then pinched to emulate the delicacy of a petal that belies the inherent strength of ceramic material.

Work generally available from:

Jill's work is on view at www.jillford.com and can be purchased by e-mailing Jill.

Work is also available from:
Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool
Biscuit Factory - Newcastle
Bottle Kiln, Derbyshire
Craft Centre and Design Gallery - Leeds
Pyramid Gallery - York
Kilkenny Design Centre - Kilkenny, Rep. of Ireland
Fotheringham Gallery - Stirling, Scotland
Whitby Gallery 
Anstey Galleries

Jill has written an interesting article entitled Origin - a Journey which I think will inspire those setting out on a similar journey today.

History

A Levels Bradford Girls' Grammar School
B Ed Leeds Polytechnic
Dip. Montessori Ed. L. M. C.
H.N.D. Design Crafts York College 2001 - 2002.
Activities
Artist in Residence - Barwic Parade P. School , Ceramics
Community Peace Project - Barwic Parade, Selby
Teaching
Primary schools, Ceramics clubs, Private tuition
Awards
Zelli Porcelain Award 2005 runner up “I Saw a Ship a-Sailing”
Arts Council grant 2002

Exhibitions

Tullie House and Gallery, Carlisle Northern Potters Exhibition 2003
Pyramid Gallery, York Christmas Exhibition 2003
Solo exhibition, Ibson Interiors, York 2003
Pyramid Gallery, York Summer Exhibition 2003
Ideal Home Exhibition 2003 - Birmingham N.E.C.
Potfest in the Pens - Penrith - Aug. 2004
Clayart - Denbigh , North Wales - May for 2004
British Craft Trade Fair- Harrogate - 2004
Adze Gallery - York - Spring New Works 2004
Elemental - Exhibition at The Yard, East Dulwich. London - June 2004
Elemental - Exhibition at The Yard, East Dulwich. London - 2004
Millennium Galleries - Sheffield 2005
Pyramid Gallery, York Xmas and Summer exhibs 2003 - 2006
Mid-Pennine Art Gallery - N.P A Exhibition 2004, Christmas 2005
Maker of the Month at Ropewalk Gallery - Barton on Humber
Platform Gallery - Clitheroe - 2005
Leeds Craft Centre and Design Gallery - Wedding Belles - 2005
Clayart - Denbigh , North Wales – 2004, 2005, 2007
Freshly Fired Biscuit – Biscuit Gallery, Newcastle 2006
Earth and Fire - Rufford 2005, 2007
Northern Fire Exhibition - Oxo Tower Wharf - London 2005, 2007
Affordable Art Fair - London - March 06
ARTSPACE – Henley 2006
Henley Festival 2006
Art in Clay – Farnham Maltings 06, 07 - demonstrator and exhibitor
Art in Clay – Hatfield House 2006, 2007 demonstrator and exhibitor

Galleries and Shops

Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool
Biscuit Factory - Newcastle
Rufford Craft Centre and Ceramics Gallery, Ollerton
Bottle Kiln, Derbyshire
Craft Centre and Design Gallery - Leeds
Cecilia Coleman Gallery, London
Pyramid Gallery - York
Kilkenny Design Centre - Kilkenny, Rep. of Ireland
Quinlans - County Cork, Ireland
Fotheringham Gallery - Stirling, Scotland

Memberships

Arts Council England - Yorkshire - Grants for the Arts - 2005
Craft Potters Association
Northern Potters Association
East Riding Artists - Professional member

Articles

Yorkshire Life - July 2008
Yorkshire Evening Press - July 2003
Hull Daily Mail Journal September 2003