Artist's Statement

I aim to make thought provoking, sophisticated hand-built ceramics that pay homage to ancient skills while embracing contemporary influences. Often dictated by classic vessel form and containment, works are not designed as functional.

I create intuitively, a fusion of ideas, drawing on a kaleidoscope of images and observations to make work with a unique identity balanced between organic and manufactured references.

Abstract in nature, my work allows the viewer to interpret their own understanding and question my works origins.

Inspiration, perhaps only a glimpse in the finished work, stems from my interest in nature, human form, primitive tools, childhood games and cross cultural museum artefacts, along with a myriad of observations from every day life. It intrigues me to toy with these influences out with the context I find them in.

While I frequently plan and design individual works based on sketches and photographs I allow myself freedom to explore new ideas suggested occasionally by unconscious thought as the work develops. The painstakingly slow method of coil building facilitates this fluid design method.

Always striving for perfection, I am a harsh critic of my work so continually rework, improve and modify ideas and designs.

I recently began slashing into work in progress as part of my commitment to continuous development. Never an easy decision to vandalise a labor intensive work in pursuit of excellence but this act of destruction gives rise to new possibilities. I’m excited that one idea can lead to many and this exploration motivates me to constantly question my aesthetics and techniques, necessary for the growth of ideas and challenges.

With ideas, the sculptural qualities in my ceramics are of utmost importance to me. That is my roots. My interest is in form rather than relying on surface colour or pattern to capture imagination. I, therefore, deliberately choose a monochrome pallet of one overall colour to focus on subtleties of shape and form.    Lorraine Robson

Current Work

Having recently been awarded a Scottish Arts Council Grant towards creative development I am about to launch new work resulting from this exploration period that began July 2009, at Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow, March 2010
Lorraine also works to commission but, due to demand, orders can take up to two months before delivery. For commissions, 25% of the cost (non-refundable) is payable in advance.

Technical Notes

Selected Group Exhibitions

1987 - Dunkeld and Birnam Arts Festival.
1988 - Royal Scottish Academy Student Exhibition.
1988 - Festival Exhibition, ‘Susan Robson, Lorraine Robson' The Edge, Edinburgh.
1988 - Scottish Society of Women Artists 64th Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
1988 - Awarded Selina Goodenough Memorial Prize.
1989 - Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition.
1989 - Fruitmarket Gallery Open Exhibition, Edinburgh.

1990 - Scottish Society of Women Artists 65th Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
1991 - Collective Gallery Festival Exhibition, Edinburgh.
1991 - The Society of Scottish Artists Centenary Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
1991 - Awarded Arts Council Grant for commissioned installation.
1993 - Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
1994 - The Scottish Artists and Artist Craftsmen 5th Exhibition, Royal Scottish 1994 - Academy, Edinburgh.
1994 - "On a Small Scale" The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh.
1994 - Christmas Exhibition, Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington.
1995 - Roger Billcliffe Fine Art Gallery, Glasgow,
1995 - "Women Artists" Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington,
1995 - Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven,
1995 - Crawford Arts Centre, St Andrews,
1995 - The Strathearn Gallery, Crieff,
1995 - "New Works" The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh.

1996 - Coram Gallery, London,
1996 - Line Gallery, Linlithgow,
1996 - Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington,
1996 - T.Garner Gallery, Glasgow.
1997 - Coram Gallery, London.
1998 - The Scottish Artists and Artist Craftsmen, Perth Museum and Art Gallery,
1998 - The Fotheringham Gallery, Bridge of Allan,
1998 - Commissioned Work for Royal Highland Show,
1998 - James Graham and Sons, New York.
1999 - Crawford Arts Centre, St Andrews,
1999 - Nexus Galleries, Edinburgh.

2000 - James Graham and Sons, New York,
2000 - Line Gallery, Linlithgow,
2000 - The Bellevue Gallery, Edinburgh,
2000 - Nexus Galleries, Edinburgh.
2001 - Gold Gallery, Edinburgh.
2003 - The Stenton Gallery, Stenton
2004 - Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh
2005 - Goddards Gallery, Southhampton

2006 - AE Contemporary Art (formerly Eyestorm Gallery) Warwick
2006 - St Andews Pottery, St Andrews, Fife
2006 - The Park Gallery, Falkirk
2006 - The Biscuit Factory,Newcastle upon Tyne
2006 - Galleria Luti, Callander
2007 - Multiplicity, InHouse festival exhibition, Edinburgh.
2008 - The Smithy, Blanefield
2009 - Hanna’s Gallery, Dundee
2009 - Timespan Museum, Helmsdale. Craft showcase exhibition

2010 - ‘Opposites Attract’ Roger Billcliff Gallery, Glasgow, UK
2010 - Howden Park Arts Centre, Livingston
2011 - ‘Unite’ Collins Gallery, Glasgow
2011 - Return to the Earth, Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington
2011 - 3rd International Triennial of Silicate Arts, Cifrapalota, Bacs-kiskun, Hungary
2011 - 7th International Biannual of Ceramics, 'inside Out', Cultural Centre Kapfenberg, Austria
2011 - "Inside Out", Herzer Palace of the City Museum of Varazdin, Croatia

Awards

1988 - Selina Goodenough Memorial Prize
1991 - Awarded Arts Council Grant towards commissioned installation
2009 - Scottish Arts Council Creative Development Grant 
2009 - Forth Valley Craft Makers Award towards Professional Development research trip
2011 - Vasefinder, awarded 3rd prize, Vasefinder 6th International, USA
2012 - Vasefinder, awarded 1st prize, Vasefinder 7th International, USA

Work in Collections:
Scottish Power
Forestry Commission
Maclay Murray & Spens
Private collections in UK and USA

Membership

Professional member of Craft Potters Association
Member of Scottish Artist Union
Axis member  - http://www.axisweb.org/artist/lorrainerobson
StudioPottery member  - http://www.studiopottery.co.uk