About Me
My pottery story.
I first became interested in pottery in my early twenties when I joined an Adult Eduction pottery course. Encouraged by the tutor I went on a week long course at John Solly's pottery in Maidstone. Seeing my work develop each day from making to final firing in a week was absolutely fascinating and I was hooked.
I applied to go to Rochester College of Art and Design and four years later graduated with a Diploma in Ceramics. I started teaching at Adult Education and also rented a studio space for a short while.
However, marriage and children intervened, and whilst I taught on and off I really did not make pots for nearly 30 years. Fortunately I never lost the desire to make pots and as my youngest went off to Uni I looked for a class to join to see if I still had the skill.
Initially I joined a class at Chipstead Craft Studios and then very soon after a second class at Aylesford School of Ceramics, the passion was very much alive. Apparently the skill is like riding a bike and very quickly my abilities and confidence returned and I began to produce some really pleasing pots.
Much had changed in ceramics in the lost years and I really appreciated the support and encouragement I received from the tutors. I quite soon refound my interest in thrown and distorted pots and surprised myself by becoming enthralled with Raku firing which had not really interested me before.
As I was coming up to retirement from my daytime job in Early Years education I finally was able to realise my dream of having my own studio with the time to use it. Two years ago we converted half our garage and invested in the equipment and so the story continues today....
A bit more about me...
As a mother of five and grandma to two I am a pretty busy person. Having embarked on retirement my husband Joe and I have begun to follow our dreams of travel. Starting with 2 months in New Zealand and Australia and with plans for North East America and Africa, not to mention short breaks in the UK and Europe, we are thoroughly enjoying the freedom. Fitting pottery in around this is proving tricky but possible.
Over the last three years I have been part of the core group for the New Ash Green Arts Community and have enjoyed taking part in three exhibitions in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and demonstrating at our Arts Cafe in 2017.
In addition I have participated in an exhibition with the Chipstead Craft Studio Potters at Marle Place and in a private exhibition in Farningham Kent called '(Absence of) Remarkable Geography' in April 2017.
These experiences have been great fun despite plenty of 'angst, and have brought plenty of learning curves. It is really pleasing to discover that other people enjoy my work even to the point of buying it and it is interesting to find out what people like and why. I enjoy meeting with other artists and find much encouragement and inspiration from the discussions and contact.
Although most of my work is one off pieces (I don't usually do repetitive throwing though many pieces are similar) I have taken on one commission which involved producing 300 small tea light holders, similar but not identical. This was quite an undertaking and I was quite flattered to be asked. The experience was both good but taxing, fitting the making around a two month trip to New Zealand / Australia and an impending knee operation proved tricky but was achieved. I learnt a huge amount about throwing techniques, glazing and firing throughout the process not to mention developing some professionalism and business skill. I was pleased to complete the order though not without help from friends and family.
I continue to develop my work and gain confidence in new ways of glazing and firing. See my Blog and Gallery for the latest updates