My work

I see my work as a continual progression. I am always thinking about the next piece or the next type of glaze, even while I am working on the one in hand. My work falls into two categories, sculpture and thrown pots.

Thrown Pots

My pots are thrown on the wheel using a clay that is a combination of T Material and Raku clay. This makes the piece strong and able to withstand the violent thermal shock of the Raku process. This clay is also light and smooth to throw.

With my thrown pots I am constantly striving to produce a purity and simplicity of shape that will not distract from the intricacy of the glaze. I am particularly happy when the inside takes on a different colour from the outside, although this is tricky to achieve, as I find the contrast very exciting.

Sculpture

I am experiencing a sharp learning curve with my sculpture as it is a new addition to my skills. I am experimenting with paperclay which has such amazing properties for clay, and also withstands the thermal shock very well. Again I am reaching for pure lines, but often find that the piece takes hold of me and ends up much more complicated than I had intended!

I have two themes in my sculpture. Dragons, which are self explanatory - wonderful, dynamic, magical creatures which lend themselves so beautifully to my process and Forms. In my Forms I am exploring concepts of duality and unity. I am fascinated by the 'Janus' image, looking simultaneously backwards and forwards, past and future. I am discovering different aspects in the same image, extrovert and introvert, curvaceous and angular, inside and outside.

Glazes

Although all my work is Raku fired, I use a number of glazes and techniques which produce very different effects. My glazes are metallic as I am always drawn to glitter and shine. They are mostly copper based although I sometimes use silver nitrate and bismuth on special pieces. The bismuth helps promote an iridescence that I find irresistible. I am completely in love with the volcanic texture that, to me, beautifully communicates the terrific temperatures and forces within the kiln.

Raku Resist

Another technique that I have particularly enjoyed using is Raku Resist. This is a method of smoke firing a piece with a glaze on that subsequently shales off leaving the patterning of the smoke on a smooth white surface. This is a very evocative effect, and lovely to the touch.