Background
My first introductions to pottery were at school and ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level ceramics continuing through a variety of courses and evening classes while working and raising a family. Buying my first electric kiln and small shed meant I could experiment at home and develop my understanding of glazes and firing. In 2005 following a week-long throwing course I experimented more with throwing buying my first wheel – a huge, old Electric wheel from the 1970s – meant I could practise further particularly using thrown vessels to pierce for tealight holders.
Traditionally ceramics can use a lot of energy and water so I am always trying to minimise my environmental impact for example in the following ways:
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Solar panels supplement kiln energy and studio lighting.
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Only harvested water is used in the studio for throwing and cleaning.
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All clay scraps are recycled for future use.
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Packaging materials are re-used (such as bubble-wrap or newspaper) whenever possible.
Herefordshire
2025 - today
Moving to a new area and taking time to set up a new studio has allowed me to consider what I make and what I want to make.
I am continuing to make vases and developed decoration influenced by my daily walks throughout the seasons, down country lanes with views across to distant hills. A few smaller items have crept in including small vases and little dishes using the same techniques including washes of various underglazes and oxides, wax resist and sgraffito.
Following a course about carving sculptures I made a few pieces before moving from Mull and these have further developed as leaf and flower designs. These pieces are as large as I can fire in my kiln although because they are solid are fired very slowly.
Exhibitions:
An Tobar, Tobermory ‘Evolution’ 2017
‘Hidden’ 2020
‘Pandemonium’ 2021
‘Drawing In’ 2023
Barony Centre, West Kilbride ‘Scottish Stories’ 2022
Work sold at:
Iona Craft Shop
Island Crafts, Tobermory
SW Mull Makers shop
Fionnphort Mull and Iona Shop (online)
Isle of Mull
2012-2024
Moving to Fionnphort on the Isle of Mull and setting up a new workshop was an exciting venture. I had already been selling some of my work in The Iona Craft Shop and Island Crafts in Tobermory and I continued to develop new work mostly for sale. I was instrumental in setting up the SW Mull Makers collective and continued on the committee running the shop, organising winter workshops and taking part in open studios and other events.
I was a member of Scottish Potters Association and had work selected for exhibition in ‘Scottish Stories’ at the Barony Centre, West Kilbride 2022. I developed and ran a wide variety of pottery workshops at The Columba Centre (Fionnphort), Community Garden (Bunessan) and the Community Forest including windchimes, plates and mugs, fairy doors, tea bowls (chawan) etc
Yorkshire
2006-2015
I lived in York for over 20 years and worked across Yorkshire in the heritage sector. With all the amazing buildings and facades in York and working at various historic buildings they featured in my work from building facades and individual features such as doorways to 3D buildings such as Monkbar (York). As a member of Northern Potters and Brigantia I showed work in a variety of exhibitions and selling events.
I developed and led a range of pottery workshops – including Heads and Faces at Rievaulx Abbey, and St Peter’s Church (Barton on Humber), Art at the Abbey (Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds), workshops in schools including houses and Hundertwasser buildings
Exhibitions:
Pots at Poppleton 2007
Preston 2008
Rufford 2008
York College 2009
Gallery Oldham 2011
Joe Cornish Gallery 2012
Studio Eleven ‘Made by Hand’ 2012
Theatre Royal, York
Platform Gallery, Clitheroe 2012
Brigantia at Hawes 2013 and 2014
Work sold at:
Art Estee, York
We are your emporium, York
York Open Air Art Exhibitions
Mermaid and Miller, York
Festival of Rivers, York
Water Street Gallery, Todmorden