After meeting internationally famous Ceramist Kate Malone at her studio in London in 2004, I become even more inspired whilst working with her, and was determined to be like her one day.
I also remember doing a workshop with the lovely mixed-media Painter, Fiona Mead. Fiona was featured in the Open Studios brochure, and at the time I imagined my name printed in there - and now it is!
I have learnt, experienced and overcome so many things whilst developing and exploring my creative journey. My course at Coventry University was one of the main influences for this, where I completed my BA Hons in Surface Decoration, and specialised in Ceramics.
I now work full-time in a sales office in Daventry, and spend most of my free time evolving my ceramics and developing ideas. I have a large stock of my work at The Hayrack Gallery, Upper Stowe, and enjoy selling my work at craft fairs, country shows and other events. One of my next big events will be at The International Balloon Fiesta, which I hope to be a success. I am always looking for new and exciting adventures for me and my work, and love to see and hear peoples' reactions when seeing my creations for the first time.
I am so passionate about what I do, even more so now after my recent stay in hospital after having surgery on my lung. I think it has changed the way I see things, and made me realise not to take anything for granted. I now want to make the best out of every opportunity where possible. Now that I am back on track with making my work, I feel much more free and energetic, as this is what I longed to be doing whilst in hospital, and I think this is beginning to show because my work is becomming more experimental and lively.
I have always enjoyed adding other materials and aggregates to the clay, I find that it gives the body of a piece of work more dimension and character, and also pushes the boundaries of what it can do. I enjoy decorating the surface of my work as well as forming each piece, and the decorative elements include small chunks of dried clay rolled into the surface of soft clay, gravel or sawdust mixed in with the body of the material, and also mixing different coloured glass to the clay. I like to call this one of the unique characteristics about my work, and people tend to love the results.
I have recently set up a new workshop in my garden at home - I'll leave you to gues where I now spend most of my time! I look forward to what lies ahead for my creative future...
