ABOUT
I am an Irish-born ceramic
artist, currently resident and working from my studio in beautiful Carmarthen
(West Wales).
The potter’s wheel is the
starting point for my practice. My thrown forms create a three-dimensional
‘canvas’ to show the colour and texture of glaze splashes that accentuate the
curve of the vessel. The carbonisation of combustible material sits deep within
the walls of the pot, thus marrying the form with the surface. I fire my pots
exclusively in the western style of the 16th century Japanese firing technique
known as Raku - a type of pottery traditionally used in Japanese tea
ceremonies.
The elegant forms show a
variation of colours that are controlled by the atmospheric conditions in the
firing process; this is comparable to the earth’s different layers in its
atmosphere that, for instance, create the beautiful spectrum of colour in the
Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.
When working in black and
white, I have used atmospheric storms as a starting point for a series of
pieces. The curve and lines of the vessel contain harsh elements and bring a
sense of calm that is comparable to ‘The Eye of the Storm’.
The inspiration for my work
comes more from the firing process than anything else; to open a kiln after a
firing is to be 5 years old again, running down stairs on Christmas morning!
The raku firing process can be cruel or kind. It is a mix of creativeness and
spontaneity that I try to control through the absorption of smoke into the
vessel, by using different methods of resist. With each piece, I want to instil
in the viewer a desire to hold the work, to investigate and explore its shape
and surface quality. There is an understanding gained in each firing of what
can be controlled and achieved, and what lies in the turbulent power and
burning velocity of the flames.
Awards
2015 Accepted into ‘The Makers Guild of Wales’
2014 ‘Bevere Gallery’ UK Graduate Show, Winner
2014 King Street Gallery Graduate Show, Winner
2013 Graduate 2, Best graduate work in Wales (only potter selected)
2013 Carmarthen School of Art, Dave Clarke Award