With the current headlining dark gloom happening in the world, I made the Colour Series 2023 work to recognise the light, love and colour that exists in human connections. On a personal level, the work is driven by my own connections lost and found, which can be simultaneously fragile and strong. Each work’s unique outer and inner character develops through the making process. Displayed together they form sculptures about human connection, meeting, coincidence, fragility, strength and the unpredictable energy of life forces – nothing is ever straightforward.
I coiled white translucent porcelain, allowing the vessel to take its own course while the shape emerged, while also looking at my sketches and drawing again through the buildup of the shape. Carefully carved and scraped, I painted the textured exterior with porcelain slip, coloured with oxides and stains, slightly burnished with a favourite stone and contrasted with different interior colour. Then all was unpredictably affected by shrinking and becoming translucent during firing.
For the White Series Vessels, I designed a collection of irregularly shaped transparent cases to contain the vessels. Arranged inside and outside, they form sculptures about connection, meeting, coincidence, water, fragility, translucency, transparency and the unpredictable energy of life forces.
After graduating with a Fashion Design and Textiles degree I worked for 10 years in fashion design and colour forecasting which took me to India, the Far East and USA.While living in New York I trained in ceramics and wheel throwing, and on returning to London I started coiling. This primitive organic work was first shown at The Dagmar Gallery Dulwich and the first translucent porcelain work at Gainsborough House Suffolk in 1991, then exhibiting at Chelsea Crafts Fair, in Europe, the USA, and at galleries around the UK, including Yorkshire Sculpture Park Bothy Gallery in 2000, Kenwood House in London and Leeds City Art Gallery, returning to YSP in 2016 for a ceramics showcase, and currently showing Plates for Purpose – Make for Peace at Messums West, Tythe Barn.
I work from my studio in my house at East Mersea on Mersea Island Essex, a short walk to the marshy mud flats and wide open skies of the Pyefleet Estuary. This setting and my former career as a fashion designer both influence my work.
PUBLICATIONS AND LINKS
Country Living Shoestring Chic by Gail Abbott 2004
Buyers’ Guide to Contemporary British Studio Ceramics 1999, 2002
”White Hot’ by Tricia Guild 1999
BBC Homes and Antiques June 2003
Ideal Home Magazine July 2003
The East Anglian Daily Times Magazine May 1999
Homes and Gardens May’93 Feb’99 Aug2000 Feb 2002
Mail on Sunday You Magazine Oct 1997
House Beautiful USA Dec 1995
Elle Decoration March 1995
Designers Guild Brochure 1994
EXHIBITIONS Solo and 2 Person Shows
The White Hart Inn West Mersea Ongoing 2023
Island Arists Open Studios Mersea Island 2023
26 – 28 May 2023 and 1-3 Sept 2023
Vanil Woodbridge Ongoing June 2023
Eastcliff House Mistley weekends June 9 – July 2 2023
Island Arists 18 Open Studios Mersea Island 2021
Island Arists 15 Open Studios Mersea Island 2019
Island Arists 15 Open Studios Mersea Island 2018
Island Arists 15 Open Studios Mersea Island 2017
Island Arists 15 Open Studios Mersea Island 2016
Island Arists 12 Open Studios Mersea Island 2015
Colchester Open Studios 2007, 2008
Norfolk & Norwich Hospital showcase 2005
City Art Gallery Leeds Solo showcase 2003
Eton Applied Arts Windsor 2 person show 2001
Yorkshire Sculpture Park with Matty de Vries 2000
Inkpen Downie Architecture&Design Colchester Essex Solo show 1999
Chelsea Crafts Fair London 1997, 1998
Accent on Design’ New York Int Gift Fair 1994, 95, 96
Oriel 31 Gallery Welshpool Wales + June Redfern 1993
GALLERY / SHOP STOCKISTS / GROUP SHOWS
Messums West Tisbury Wilts Ongoing 2024
The White Hart Inn West Mersea Ongoing 2023
Eastcliff House Mistley weekends June 9 – July 2 2023
Oyster Gallery West Mersea Island Artists May 2023, June 2023
Vanil Woodbridge Ongoing June 2023
Art For Cure Aldeburgh Sept 2021
Island Artists Pop Up Gallery Mersea Island Nov 2020
No3 Gallery Ingatestone Essex 2020 – 2022
ArtSpace Woodbridge Suffolk May/ June 2019
Yorkshire Sculpture Park ‘MADE’ 2016
Drift Pop Up Gallery W. Mersea 2016-17
Art Cafe West Mersea Essex 2011, 2015
Colchester Open FirstSite 2015
North House Gallery Manningtree Essex 2013
Mersea Island Cookery School 2013
Colchester Open Studios 2007, 2008
Tillinghm Music Festival Exhibition 2005
Salty Dogs Maldon Essex 2004
Suffolk Crafts Society Bury St Edmunds Suffolk 2004
North House Gallery Manningtree Essex 2003
Contemporary Crafts Kenwood House London 2003
Rufford Craft Centre Nottingham “Raw” 2002
New Ashgate Gallery Famham Surrey 2002
Nick Allen Gallery Battersea Bridge Rd London 2002
The White Gallery 86-87 Hove Brighton ’98-2001
Cecilia Coleman St. John’s Wood London ’98-2002
Piers Feetham Gallery Fulham Rd London ’98- 2000
Designers Guild Kings Rd London ’94- 2003