The inspiration for my pots often comes from observing ceramic artefacts from all ages and origins in museums and galleries, or from organic forms and shapes seen in nature. My pots tend to be rounded or cylindrical vessels which often narrow at the base to form a small foot in order to give the final form a sense of poise and balance. Lips tend to be simple, sometimes deeply incised to reflect the outer curvature and asymmetry of the shape.
All pots are hand-coiled from white earthstone, and dishes are press-moulded and refined using the same materials and techniques. Surfaces are usually, though not always, burnished, sometimes several times, particularly following the application of coloured slips.
Once the surfaces are prepared in this way they are then bisqued for later decoration either by smoking in a raku-type fashion or by the application of terra sigillata slips or glazes.
The inspiration for the designs comes from a variety of sources, including Oriental and African themes, or might perhaps arise from something as simple as glimpsing a geometric pattern on a bill-board from the top of a London bus. Patterns are created using a variety of masking techniques including adhesive tapes and clay armatures.
