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.
After a career in retail, Barry discovered the joy of working with clay through evening classes, and soon realised he wanted to explore further and learn as much as possible. He then gained a place on the ceramics course at the University of Westminster, Harrow.
Margaret works with light, smooth clay, either porcelain or white stoneware and combines this with the revealing process of vapour glazing. Her work has always had its roots in function and domestic ware. Victorian architecture, Greek pots, and the sea are influences for her work. She particularly wants to convey the joy she feels when snorkelling. She delights in the colours and patterns of coral and sea creatures. She takes note of patterns when she travels whenever possible.
Rachel Grimshaw’s sculptural ceramics are about the clay itself. Focusing on its pliable, immediate, qualities, Rachel likens her pieces to photographs capturing a ‘frozen moment’ in time, her pieces are fixed in a forever gesture once fired.
Geoffrey Swindell was born in Stoke-on-Trent. First studying painting, it wasn’t until he took up a summer job at the Pottery at Alton Towers that he decided to follow in the footsteps of his ancestor and become a potter.
As a child, Emmanuel grew up surrounded by the traditions and perfumes of Sardinia, a land rich in marine life. Her work is influenced by her native culture with its music and folk-costumes of luxuriant materials adorned with precious jewels. She was captivated by the gentle flowing of the living creatures found in the seabed, particularly by coral and the variety of porous sponges.
John Jelfs' work has been widely exhibited in leading galleries including the Victoria & Albert Museum, Alpha House in Sherborne, Beaux Arts, Bath, Rufford Ceramics Centre in Nottingham and is also included in many collections in the UK and abroad.