Artists Statement

I make my work on the wheel, using porcelain, and glaze using a small palette of colours based on classical Far Eastern glazes - copper red, celadon and tenmoku.

Throwing is at the centre of my work, and I try to aim for as great a degree of fluency in this as possible. The kiln completes the process. Understanding what happens in the kiln is crucial – what happens when flames lap the surface – when to stoke or reduce the atmosphere for particular effects. This isn’t really giving over control to the fire, but understanding how to channel the fire to get a chance of something happening. Alchemy!

My practice is clearly based on functional objects, but I hope that I am producing work that is more widely appreciated, that is decorative as well as useful. If I am making a statement, it is that I want people to enjoy things, to engage in eating, displaying, presenting, looking, and I hope that my work will help them to do this.  As Takeshi Yasuda said, "I like eating, cooking and making pots and they all go together.

Current Work and Availability

Since graduation, John has been showing his work in a variety of venues, including major National ceramics events - Earth and Fire at Rufford, the Oxford Ceramics Fair and Art in Clay at Hatfield House and Farnham Maltings.

Work Available from:
The Dolby Gallery, 30 West Street, Oundle, Peterborough, PE4 4EF www.dolbygallery.com
Lion House Gallery, 12 High Street, Lavenham, Suffolk CO10 9PR www.lionhousegallery.co.uk
The Moreton Gallery, Queen’s Head House, High Street. Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire www.themoretongallery.co.uk
ICAS-Vilas Fine Art Gallery, 8-10 Leys Avenue, Letchworth Garden City www.vilasart.co.uk
Appleyard Gallery, Holt, Norfolk www.theappleyardgallery.co.uk
New Ashgate Gallery Wagon Yard, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PS www.newashgate.org.uk
Oriel Y Capel Castle Street Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL2 8NU
Waterperry Gallery Waterperry Gardens, Nr Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1JZ www.waterperrygardens.co.uk
Junction Art Gallery, 43 Oxford Street Woodstock, Oxon, OX20 1TJ www.junctionartgallery.co.uk

Technical Information

Porcelain is fired in a small top-loading LPG Kiln to the design by Andrew Holden. I was lucky to acquire this kiln from Alan Caiger-Smith at Aldermaston Pottery, and I hope the current work is worthy of it!

I fire to Cone 10, reducing from cone 08 or cone 06, depending on glazes, for a total of about 8 hours.

History and Background

Education:
2008 BA(Hons) Ceramics, University of Westminster (Harrow)
2005 Access to Art and Design, Hertfordshire Regional College, Ware
1976-2002 Worked in research, consultancy and management in the Telecommunications industry

Experience:
Summer 2005, Summer 2006, Studio assistant to Chris Jenkins for wood firings at Haute Nezière, Mayenne, France
Numerous Raku workshops for local classes and Arts Centre groups
Stand-in evening class tutor
Provision of 'holy grail making' instruction for corporate team-building days

Memberships:
Licentiate of the Society of Designer Craftsmen
Associate Member of the Craft Potters Association
Secretary of the CPA Members and Associates Advisory Committee (MAAC)
Selected Member of Anglian Potters

Exhibitions