I am a ceramicist working out of my studio in the
East Midlands of the UK to produce unique
decorative Raku ceramics.
I have sold my work at art, craft and ceramics fairs
in the Midlands and North and exhibited at galleries
in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
My work reflects my love of wheel thrown forms
and the beautiful natural surfaces of burnished
Raku. I particularly love the endless variety
achieved with horsehair, saggar and obvara
techniques. Each piece is burnished by hand
several times before firing, imparting a rich sheen
to the surface which provides the canvas
for the organic surface marking.
I am constantly exploring the possibilities of wheel
thrown forms, taking inspiration from previous
generations of potters, especially those of the
Bronze Age and Roman periods.
Horse Hair Raku
A Native American ceramic style which involves
burnishing the greenware pot with a polished stone
before firing. The pot is removed from the kiln
while still very hot. Horsehair, feathers and sugar are
applied to the surface which burn away leaving
dramatic impressions on the surface.
Saggar fired Raku
After burnishing and then bisque firing the pot an
iron solution is applied to the surface.
Organic and mineral materials are placed on the
surface and the pot
wrapped in foil before firing to 750 degrees.
When the foil disintegrates oxidation causes
the surface to blush pink, orange and white
as the surface materials interact with the air.
Obvara Raku
A technique from the Baltic region. The fired pot is
dipped into a fermenting yeast mixture which
burns onto the surface, dramatically accentuating
carving and textural relief.