Judy McKenzie

After a long and varied career in design and printing, Judy changed direction and followed her passion for ceramics.  At the age of sixty she enrolled for a 3D Craft and Design BA at a local college and graduated with a 1st Class (Hons). Judy went on to gain an MA at the Royal College of Art, specialising in Nerikomi and Kintsugi.

Whilst at the RCA she was invited to travel to China to exhibit her work. She was awarded a commission by ROSL to create a presentation plaque for a prize-winning musician.

Nerikomi is an ancient Japanese technique and a time-consuming process to master. There are endless possibilities for creating new patterns, colour combinations and forms. Every element is worked by hand, from colouring the porcelain with stains and oxides, to forming patterns and creating designs. Patterns are embedded within the porcelain from which a form can be manipulated.

A design can be imposed, but the clay will distort and twist, giving rise to its own voice, creating its own unique patterns. After the building and firing of each piece comes the meditative process of polishing. No glaze is used, but each piece is polished to create a tactile, silky surface.