My latest exhibition ‘Beans and Menhirs‘ is now on at the Cupola Gallery in Sheffield. Here is a piece I wrote about the inspiration behind the pieces in the show.

Most of my ceramics is inspired by nature. I am fortunate to live with easy access to the Peak District and I go there when I can, to refresh my mind. I look at the light and the changing colours, the amazing sandstone and rock formations.

There are large boulders and pebbles in a variety of colours and running water that breaks the stillness. Sometimes surprises, such as suddenly spotting wild birds near you. In spring and summer you may be lucky to see a lark on the ground and a curlew in flight. One time out on the moor I was attack by a male grouse defending its territory.

I take all this home in my mind to remember and inspire my work, although not directly.

For my two larger pieces I have been thinking of large stones in the landscape. Their heaviness and varied colours has come out in the finished work.

Ideas can also come from your everyday surroundings. My latest pieces are inspired from colours and patterns of beans growing in my garden.

My borlotti beans have all got a mottled green and red pod and the beans themselves are spotted with red marks. They are unbelievable pretty. For this exhibition I have made ceramic beans inspired from beans I have cultivated. I grow I as many sorts of beans as I can find.

The shapes of the pods and the markings on the beans are now here as a memory of summer days with time spend at the allotment in early mornings and late afternoons.

Working on new things can be a long process, month of working with many changes on the way.

It is good to see it all in Karen’s lovely gallery.

Beans and Menhirs
Cupola Contemporary Art, Sheffield
27th April to 27th May 2023
https://www.cupolagallery.com/

I am looking forward to taking part in our annual Open Studios at Yorkshire Artspace. Entry is free but you may need to book a slot at www.artspace.org.uk.

Find the flyer below, with a photograph of my leaf bowls on the top row, second from the left.

Find me in Studio 18 at Persistence Works, 21 Brown Street, Sheffield S1 2BS. I hope to see you there.

After my disappointment earlier this year when my solo exhibition ‘Urban Joy’ had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus, I’m very happy to inform you that it has now been rescheduled and will take place in spring 2021.

The show will be open from Thursday 29 April until Saturday 29 May 2021. It will be open from 11 – 4pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

In other good news, my showcase at Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery is on now and will be there for some time. I’m really pleased with how it’s been displayed – particularly the use of sand beneath my floating bowls – and the arrangement works well.

We are having our annual Open Studios from 11am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday 16 and 17 of this month.

This year it will be mostly work in progress, as I am working for my solo show in April 2020. This show will be  at the Persistence Works Gallery .

It is new ceramics I have been developing over the last two year. I shall write more about it later. I am greatly looking forward to showing my new pieces, but you must wait for the show to happen.

There will however be plenty to look at for the Open Studios and I will be selling pieces that have been shown around the country at somehow reduced prices.

I look forward to see you at one of the two days.

 

17 & 18 November 11am-4PM

My studio, Studio 18 will be open and I welcome visitors to have a look at my work in progress.

I am working on pieces for my solo show in 2020. This exhibition will be centred on works I have developed taking inspiration from drain covers around Sheffield.
I shall also show new sculptural pieces inspired by nature, this will include some outdoor pieces.

There will be no more smaller garden pots as such, but at the Open Studio I will be selling of some at reduced price.