Contemporary Ceramics gallery and shop exhibits the greatest collectable names in British ceramics along with the most up and coming artists of today. Our distinguished makers are all carefully selected members of the Craft Potters Association.
All of our makers are members of the Craft Potters Association and each of them have a story to tell.
“Chivers is an artist potter whose work shines with a flowing lyricism in which decoration is intrinsically linked to form but is equally linked to natural random processes of image formation of the kind favoured by the American Abstract Expressionists and the European ‘matter’ painters.” Peter Davies.
After completing an MA in Ceramics from the RCA in 1988, Paul moved to Italy and worked for Gucci on their home and perfume products, then into the world of leather goods and accessories. That seemed a natural progression from clay with his love of form, sculpture and respect for craftsmanship. This led to a 30-year career in Fashion accessories, moving to New York in the early 90s, becoming design director for Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, and COACH amongst others.
Tim works from his studio/gallery and garden in an East Devon village, making and curating exhibitions and occasionally writing. It’s a combination of the immersion in his local environment with the many invitations to exhibit/lecture around the world that has influenced his work for well over forty years. Some of Tim’s favourite adventures have been in China, India, Australia - and many times in Japan, which has reconnected him with his family history in that country, which stretches back almost 150 years.
Jessica’s latest collection of porcelain plates showcases the importance of convivial connections between ceramics, food and community, which is at the heart of her practice. It was born from a need for playful experimentation, deftly embodying the freedom of making, unbounded by rules or functional constraints.
Claire creates decorative smoke-fired pots. She chooses to use porcelain due to its strong resistance to wild temperature changes during the smoke-firing process. Her pots are not functional nor suitable for holding water due to the porous quality of the unglazed burnished clay which is necessary for smoke-firing.
Suzanne began working with clay while accompanying her husband during their years living in the Middle East in the 1960s and 70s. She came to make clay her home ground and something she could take with her wherever she lived.
She discovered Oribe ware – Japanese tea ceramics associated with the Kaiseki meal and tea ceremony – whose glazes and playful geometric decoration greatly influenced her aesthetic. She ultimately decided to import English porcelain clay so she would have continuity wherever she worked and for the same reasons travelled with a small electric kiln.
