Sculpture

Clay has been my creative medium since childhood, providing me with a sense of grounding, security and protection.

My forms and visual language have undergone many changes over time but my building  methods are basically the same, the main difference being that as an adult I hand build using coils and as a child I built out of snakes, which I think is a lot cooler.

The creative process begins with preparing many studies of shells, which have been the main influence in my work for many years. But once I start working with the clay all the sketches and studies  are put aside and a conversation with the clay begins. The form develops out of the interplay of the repetitive movement  in coil building and the physical attributes of the clay, often pushing the clay and the form to its limit. 

Working with a robust hand building clay allows me to experiment and discover a new form each time. It also enables me to fire each piece multiple times, each time applying another layer of slip, stain, oxide and glaze to create a rich and deep textured and coloured surface