Ceramics
From 1996 – 2003 my ceramics practice was focused on functional, small batch production porcelain. The forms I produced were mainly sculptural vases with smooth, crisp edges and many double-cast pieces resulting in satisfyingly solid, chunky shapes. All work was slip-cast and highly finished with graphic surface qualities, using inlay, slips and glaze to create texture, pattern and subtle tones. During my time at the RCA, and more recently I have focused on surface pattern, learning print skills and developing rich multi-layered imagery, working on large scale tiles and bone china white-ware.
Screen Prints
My imagery is based on nature, suggestive of plants and landscape, but abstracted and playful. I am interested in using repeated line, shape and colour to develop pattern and create a graphic composition with a 3 dimensional depth. Prints start off from drawings and paper cut outs, I then work instinctively with my ‘library’ of imagery. Most prints are ‘one – offs’ made within a series, with some small edition runs.
About Me
EDUCATION
- 2002 – 04. Royal College of Art, London. MA Ceramics
- 1993 – 06. University of Brighton. BA(Hons) Wood, Metal, Plastic Ceramics
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
- 2009. Freelance pattern designer for Conran Ltd. Designing surface pattern for ceramic tableware.
- 2005 – 08. Project Manager for Hidden Art Cornwall. Set up, launched and ran Hidden Art Cornwall, a not-for-profit, designer-maker support organisation
- 1996 – 03. Self-employed as a designer-maker, running a small batch production ceramics business making slip-cast porcelain
- 2004 – 05. Part time lecturer on the BA (Hons) Ceramics at Bath University, teaching glaze technology and print
- 2004 – 05. Part time lecturer on the BA (Hons) Contemporary Crafts at University College Falmouth, teaching mould making
- 2004. Freelance pattern designer for Conran Ltd. Designing surface pattern for bed-linen
- 2002. Invited by the British Design Council, to travel to Australia and participate in a forum on Contemporary Design Linked to the ‘Home Sweet Home’ exhibition. Also gave talks on my work at Universities in Sydney and Melbourne
- 2004. Attended a 2 day training course on learning how to teach at the ‘Centre For Learning & Teaching’ at the London Institute
- 2004. RCA teaching placement - five day plaster project at Brighton University.
- 2001. Visiting lecturer on two day ceramics project at Falmouth College of Art
- 2001. Moved and set up new workshop in Cornwall
- 2001. Gave a talk on my work at Hove Museum and Art Gallery
AWARDS AND GRANTS
- 2008-9. Awarded a ‘Contemporary Craft Fellowship’ for mid-career makers in partnership with Katie Bunnell (www.autonomatic.org.uk), by ARTS COUNCIL SOUTH WEST in collaboration with THE CRAFTS COUNCIL.
- 2002. Awarded a QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOLARSHIP to study at the RCA
- 2002. Awarded a SOUTH WEST ARTS ‘Work Development’ grant
- 2000. Awarded a Crafts Council Bursary, to exhibit at 100% DESIGN
- 1998 – 01. Shortlisted for five awards over three years at CHELSEA CRAFTS FAIR
- 1998. Winner of 'Most Innovative Product' at the HARROGATE BRITISH CRAFT TRADE FAIR
- 1998. Received a Direct Support Grant from SOUTH EAST ARTS, to exhibit at ARTISAN, Edinburgh
- 1998. Received a 'Setting Up Grant' from THE CRAFTS COUNCIL
- 1996. Joint winner of the FX / HNB Award for furniture design at THE NEW DESIGNERS
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
- 2009. THE DEVON GUILD OF CRAFTSMEN, ‘Re-route’, a Contemporary Craft Fellowship Scheme exhibition.
- 2005. THE NEW ACADEMY GALLERY, London. ‘Hot Off The Press 5’.
- 2002. WISEMAN GALLERY, Oxford.
- 2002. LEMON STREET GALLERY, Truro. ‘Summer Show’
- 2002. DUNDEE CONTEMPORARY ARTS. ‘Craft focus’
- 2001. BRITISH COUNCIL GROUP EXHIBITION, ‘Living Britain’ at Tokyo Design Week.
- 1889 – 2001. Selected four years in a row to exhibit at CHELSEA CRAFTS FAIR.
- 2001. Solo stand at 100% DESIGN, London.
- 2001. ROGER BILCLIFFE FINE ART, Glasgow
- 2001. BRITISH COUNCIL GROUP EXHIBITION, ‘Home Sweet Home’, touring Scandinavia and Australia
- 2000. CRAFTS COUNCIL GALLERY AT THE V&A, ‘Summer show’
- 1999. ARTMONSKY ARTS, London. ‘Life form one’
- 1999. CERAMIC CONTEMPORARIES 3. Touring exhibition of recent graduates, Royal College of Art, London
- 1999. Foyer Showcase at the CRAFTS COUNCIL, Islington, London
- 1997 & 98. LYNNE STROVER GALLERY, Cambridge. ‘Contemporary crafts’
- Work sold in high quality retailers such as: The Conran Shop, Harrods and Twentytwenty one in London, Gumps in San Francisco, and Barneys in Japan.
COLLECTIONS & COMMISSIONS
- 2007. Commission to design website banners and ten large individual screen prints for an investment bank in London.
- 2000. Work purchased by SOUTH EAST ARTS, for their craft collection and exhibited in “Close Up on Crafts”, Jan. 2001
- 1999. Work purchased for the ALDRICH COLLECTION, at Brighton University, and exhibited in April 2000.
PRESS
- My work has featured in several magazines including: Elle Decoration, Wallpaper*, CRAFTS, Homes & Gardens, Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms, Living etc, Harpers & Queen, BBC Good Homes, Marie Claire, Red, Feng Shui, The Guardian & The Saturday Telegraph.
- 2002. Wrote an article for Ceramics in Society entitled ‘Virtual Exhibition’