found...formed...fired
shaped by traces of place and time
From my studio Kent, UK I work with form, surface and found materials and use alternative firing techniques to produce layered, unpredictable surfaces.
My work takes inspiration from mudlarking - searching for lost 'treasure' on the foreshore of the River Thames in London. These fragments of lives once lived—small pieces of history that have patiently waited to be rediscovered inform my work and processes. I am drawn to the untold stories each find might hold, whether that be a clay pipe, an old buckle, a piece of rusted metal.....for me it triggers my imagination and invites a host of questions and possibilities.
I create my surfaces using alternative firing techniques, including smoke and raku to create rich surfaces, subtle markings and a sense of age and patina. For me, the fire and smoke are a collaborator to the finished work.
Text is also a recurring element within my pieces. Handwritten text and screen printed words are often added prior to the final firing which is exciting - many are lost, some stay, others resist creating an additional narrative to the untold story, Much like the finds themselves, only fragments of the original story may remain. I am fascinated by these traces and absences—the way they invite us to imagine what has been lost, what survives, and what can still be discovered.
raku
a pure feat of alchemy! Click on the link to see more....
