Inspired by an avid interest in 20th century English decorative arts tradition Irena Sibrijns creates exquisite, and entirely unique, ornamental and functional pieces with equal enthusiasm.
Using a wide variety of decorating techniques such as wax and latex resist, slip trailing and sgraffito Irena creates unique and elaborate patterns and pictures on her thrown and hand-built work, often featuring natural forms. Slips saturated with stains and oxides allow her to form a process similar to painting on canvas, where building up and layering each image allows the work to portray its very own individual look and character.
‘I build up the surfaces of my pieces spontaneously, riffing on ideas of space, narrative and joy. I get to a point where I can push things a bit, hoping something exciting will happen – and sometimes it does.’
“The work has a strong tactile quality, as does the natural world. I don't wish to imitate nature but aspire to echo the process of nature.”
The driving force behind all of Paul Jackson’s
highly decorated work is a desire to express
his Cornish surroundings, with their strong
sense of colour and style. Paul uses white
earthenware to form energetic vessels
which are then decorated with colourful
and painterly abstract decorative motifs,
some influenced by Russian or Islamic art.
Richard Phethean makes ceramics
using coarse textured red and black
earthenware clays referencing
ancient pottery as well as European
slipware traditions. Richard utilises
brush and resist techniques to create
cubist‑inspired abstractions that adorn
both his domestic vessels and altered
and assembled forms.
