Artist's Statement

My fascination with the form and texture of wood is evident in my work; replicating wood is not my goal it is the starting point that takes me from the wood turning lathe to the plaster cast, to hand building and back to the lathe in an association of ideas that informs and educates as it evolves. The memory of the living timber is evident in all my ceramic pieces, from the small rice bowls, to the calabashes, to the large sculptural pieces, all are abstracted from this same source. The biggest forms require thicker more textural glaze reminiscent of ancient trees, whereas the smaller pieces require lighter handling to accentuate the fine grain. The work I produce has many applications, from the large organic forms that would sit well in a conservatory, hotel foyer or garden to the small rice bowls that would fit into any domestic setting.

Current Work

My fascination with the form and texture of wood is evident in my work; replicating wood is not my goal, it is the starting point that takes me from the wood turning lathe to the plaster cast, to hand building and back to the lathe in an association of ideas that informs and educates as it evolves. The memory of the living timber is evident in all my ceramic pieces, from the small rice bowls, to the calabashes, to the large sculptural pieces, all are abstracted from this same source. The biggest forms require thicker more textural glazes reminiscent of ancient trees, whereas the smaller pieces require lighter handling to accentuate the fine grain.

Work Generally Available from:
Cecilia Colman Gallery, 67 St Johns Wood High Street, London NW8 7NL
The Gallery at Bevere, Bevere Lane, Worcester, WR3 7RQ
Fractal Gallery, 40b St Giles Street, Norwich, NR2 1LW

Technical Information

Clay bodies I use are stoneware and porcelain, fired to 1260 degrees in an electric kiln using natural ash glazes, lava glazes and matt porcelain glazes.

Exhibition History

Hospital Gallery group shows: Ayr Hospital, Bigart Hospital, 2000-2004
Ballantrae Town Hall: Exhibition of Wood Turning and Painting- 2002
Annual Exhibition Rozelle Gallery, Ayr, Save the Children fund, 2002-2004
Gatehouse of Fleet – Fleet Park, Commemorative Sculpture- 2003,
Penkill Castle: South Ayrshire, summer exhibition. 2003-2004.
Raspberry Rooms Caldbeck ongoing exhibition 2007-
The Wave Gallery Girvan ongoing exhibition 2007-
New Designers Exhibition London 2008

Background History

Cumbria Institute of the Arts
BA Hons Applied Arts 2005-2008
First class honors

Ayr College—2004- 2005
HNC Art and Design

Ayr Technical College 1977
City and Guilds--- Carpentry and Joinery

Ayr County Council Apprenticeship 1974-1978
Carpentry and Joinery

Professional Experience:
2001-2004: Co-owner/Manager
1980- 2001: Freelance Carpenter.