1. My ceramic practise - A brief history

2. The body of work - ‘Random Order’ - it’s origins and how it has developed over years

3. Random Order in context

1. My ceramic practise- A brief history

  • Pre BA Foundation 1998
  • Introduced to clay by Warren Dunn and Dave Roberts at Dewsbury College
  • I was instantly attracted to physical making process and the qualities of clay as a material
  • I particularly liked the prospect of combining my love of drawing, surface and mark-making with more formal concerns i.e shape and form.
  • Degree - Ba Hons at ECA- 2001
  • In retrospect my degree was just the beginning.
  • At that point- Had mixed feelings about ceramics and what direction to take but knew I wanted to persue a career in the art and design industry
  •  2002 -Return to Yorkshire
  • Set myself up in a studio in leeds with East Street Arts
  • Also in 2002 I returned to Dewsbury as part time life drawing lecturer. I quickly migrated to the ceramic studio where I discussed new ideas with Warren Dunn who has acted as long standing mentor ever since
  • There began the long process of developing a body of work-more appropriate to my interest and understanding & ideas of basic shape, form, surface and texture

 Employment History

  • I have been employed over the years in multiple roles, some full some part time, but all have been related to the art and design industry.
  • I feel the multiple roles have been important in my career history as all roles have contributed to my general overall experience in this industry and and have informed  the decisions I have made in terms of my practise.
  • I have set up in business running my own art gallery in Leeds
  • I have worked as ceramic technician at York College,
  • worked in design partnership .......
  •  ....worked as a resident commercial artist for a gallery executing large scale commissions for corporate clients-hotels, banks, offices etc....
  • I have worked part time as a lecturer at Kirklees college-formerly Dewsbury College teaching across several courses since 2002. Am now part of the team developing a new ceramic degree progamme - working with some influencial figures in ceramic industry - Felicity Alieff senior lecturer at the RCA, Dave Sanderson at Stoke & Central Saint Martins College.

2. The body of work- Random Order - it's origins and how it has developed over years

  • I have worked on a body of work titled 'Random Order' since I left ECA.
  • The form, surface & visual appearance of R.O has changed significantly over a period of several years.
  • I decided in late 2007 that I would concentrate on ceramics in a more professional capacity creating work that had a direct focus towards exhibiting in selected ceramic galleries and exhibitions. Before this point the ceramics I had made had been purely for own pleasure and exploration.
  • So, I researched the ceramic market, techniques and trends in 2008- and directed the work I was making towards the market.
  • As a result I had some interest in the newly created body of work as it attracted gallery interest at ceramic fairs like CAL and Origin..
  • However I struggled with the perception of my work
  • The general feedback was that this particular style of work was neither purely functional nor purely sculptural- it sat directly in the middle.
  • I also realised that although I enjoyed creating the surface pattern, and was visually pleased with the simplicity of the form, the technique of folding the ceramics and the 'hands off approach' removed the physical making pleasure of the craft
  • In retrospect I was trying to make the jump from the studio ceramics I had been making and instead had tried to make work that was designed to be a marketable 'product'
  • As a result of my research, In 2010 I decided to set up a business called 'The Art Salon', making contemporary, functional ceramics and prints that are distinctly market and trend led
  • I have made the decision to keep this venture entirely seperate from my long-term goal of a career as a practising studio ceramicist.
  • Once I set up The Art Salon, I decided go full circle and revisit the archive body of work as I felt I had abandoned a successful body of work that had not been fully resolved / realised
  • I haven't looked back since.

3. Random Order in context

  • 'Random Order' is a series of ceramic vessels that explore the concept of structure,  order and  intervention; and equally the   antithesis  - nature  and   organic expression.
  • Historically this body of work has explored structure and order in a broad sense including grids, nets, packaging and the urban environment.
  • More recently I have researched the underlying structures and the unseen or overlooked fabric of an urban landscape for example city underpasses or the structural beams of an old mill.
  • I am engaged with contrast and balance; conceptually, formally and as a surface.
  • The ceramic forms are also derived from research into natural materials -The formal and aesthetic journey from a natural, organic existence to man's intervention and control for use in the urban environment.
  • My hand built, semi-organic ceramic forms are cut, sliced and pierced; the shaping and carving of the forms imitating the process required for industrial use in the urban environment.
  • The multi layered surface uses linear qualities and mark making to emphasise and echo the contrast and balance in the form.
  • They are symbolic of surfaces one may encounter in the natural and industrial landscape; rigid structural lines and blocks of colour juxtapose the erratic handwritten text and numerical symbolism
  • There is also a reference in the work to further interest in other surfaces and forms too, the varied patina's of rusting metal, of discarded machinery, paper and detritus, graffiti, bill boards etc...,which are all other aspects of a contemporary urban landscape.
  • My ceramic forms are all constructed in paper form from initial 2D drawings and paintings.
  • This is an integral part of the creative process as I find it difficult to separate or distinct between drawing/painting and sculpture.

Influences and Inspiration.

  • Throughout my ceramic career have found parallels to my ceramic practise in visual art. I am enthused by the paintings of Cy Twombley, Tapies & Robert Motherwell for their rich, multi-layered, energetic mark-making and use of line.
  • I was introduced to the work of ceramicist Gordon Baldwin very early on in my ceramic career. I have a deep and long-lasting admiration for his work.
  • I have also been inspired by the steel sculpture of Richard Serra.
  • These artists have explored space, structure and form in their work.