Artist's Statement

Veronica specializes in a range of fine porcelain bowls and vases as well as producing a selection of domestic porcelain. She makes commemorative items to order and is always keen to work on new commissions. 

The daughter of a leading archaeologist, Veronica was much influenced by the fineness of ancient pottery while working on excavations in Crete, a fineness she strives to emulate today. Patterns, both natural and man-made, have always fascinated her. Flower forms as well as the changing colours of the landscape as seen from her workshop are a strong influence. Above all she likes to create a sense of movement in her work.

All Veronica's pots are handthrown and Veronica likes to push the clay to its limits, trying to capture the fluidity of the wet clay and exploit its translucency after firing. She alters many of the shapes by carving or cutting and folding the rims. Some vases are left to dry hanging upside down so that the rims fall into naturally wavy shapes. Many pieces are glazed only on the inside, exploring the contrast between glazed and unglazed surfaces. Her landscape range includes vases and bowls with coloured clay added during the throwing to form random effects reminiscent of sea, sky and mountain landscapes. She also makes naturalistic porcelain leaves, some glazed, some unglazed. These leaves complement the flower-like quality of the vases and make unusual table ornaments and hangings. All the pots are fired in an electric kiln. 

After working for many years in the North East of Scotland Veronica has now established a workshop in the South-West of France, where she is continuing to make her handthrown porcelain. She is still a member of The Scottish Potters Association and uses her studio near Nairn ocasionally. She continues to sell in Scotland and in England as well as in France.

Current Work

When throwing porcelain I like to push the clay to its limits, trying to capture the fluidity of the wet clay and exploit its translucency after firing. I alter many of the shapes by cutting or carving and folding the rims.  Some vases are left to try hanging upside down so that rims fall into naturally wavy shapes. I am now also exploring the use of coloured oxides on the rims of bowls and teabowls.

Work Generally Avaliable from:
Boath House, Auldearn, Narin
Logie Steading Gallery nr Forres

Technical Information

All work is fired in an electric kiln to cone 8. Some oxides under the glaze. Some vases left unglazed but polished on the outside. The landscape range has coloured clay thrown into the body of the pot. 

Background History

1979 - Started attending pottery classes in Grenoble,France while working in France
1980 - Oxford BA MA (Oxon) Modern Languages - French, Italian
1980 - Studio pottery course run by John Solly, Maidstone
1980 - Moved to Scotland
1981 - 1985 Assistant potter at Culloden Pottery near Inverness
1984 - 1986 Set up studio producing handthrown earthenware at Moyness, Nairn
1986 - Started working with handthrown porcelain
1993 - Current Workshop established
1998 - Moved into larger workshop at same address
2001 - Elected to SPA Committee, served as Secretary - 2005
2005 - 2008 Chairman of Scottish Potters Association
2006 - Founder member of Highlands Open Studios
2007 - Elected to MAAC
2007 - Chelsea Library Gallery Pots by Veronica Newman and Paintings by Henry Hankey (Organised by Veronic Newman)
2008 - Work selected for joint CPA Associates Stand at CPA Oxford Ceramics Fair
2009 - Work selected for joint CPA Associates Stand at CPA Oxford Ceramics Fair
2010 - Member, Terre et Terres, the potters association for the Midi-Pyrénées

Exhibitions:
Have exhibited regularly with the Scottish Potters Association since 1988. Exhibited at Highland Trade Fair, Aviemore from 1993 to 1999 and in 2007, resulting in sales to galleries and shops in Scotland, England and Ireland. Have exhibited at Potfest every year since 1998. My work was selected for the following exhibitions:
2007 Solo Exhibition at Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington
'Feat of Clay' SPA selected exhibition at Strathearn Gallery, Crieff
2006 "Gifted" selected exhibition in National Museum of Scotland
2005 Applied Arts Scotland stand at Country Living Fair Edinburgh
2004 "Clay in Bloom" at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, touring Scotland 2005
2004 Highlands and Islands Open Exhibition 2001 Highlands and Islands Open Exhibition Glasgow Art Fair with Art.tm
2000 11 Pots selected by Donald Dewar for purchase by Scottish Executive for use as official gifts. 1999 'Art for Everyday' (Association for Applied Arts Exhibition in Dunfermline, Fife)
1998 The Highlands and Islands Open Exhibition
Association for Applied Arts `Gilt Edged' Exhibition, The Collins Gallery, Glasgow
Association for Applied Arts 'Centre of Attention' Exhibition, British Council Edinburgh
1997 Association for Applied ArtsGifted' Exhibition at Crawford Art Centre, St Andrews

Demonstrations and other projects:
2004 Demonstration at "Clay in Bloom" at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
2003 Demonstration for Cambridge University Classics Department on methods of manufacture of Minoan and Mycenaean ceramic forms
2002 Demonstration at Birmingham City Museum making Minoan and Mycenaean ceramic forms 2000 Panel of tiles decorated by pupils at Auldearn Primary School to commemorate the Millennium (project initiated, designed and made by Veronica Newman)
1994 Demonstration for Oxford Seminar Group making Minoan and Mycenaean ceramic forms 1992 Seminar at British Museum with Jeremy Leach on methods of manufacture of Minoan and Mycenaean Stirrup jars.