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Home page
| Recent Events: |
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15th July - 5th August: Took part in VII International Ceramics Symposium, Belarus
10th -19th August: Took part in a ceramic paperclay making workshop in Croatia
2nd November: Received my Masters from National University of Ireland, through the National College of Art & Design.
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| Upcoming Events: |
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1st February - 14th March 2010: Will undertake a Residency in the Ceramics Department of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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| Artists Statement |
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“Tradition is the living hand of the dead; traditionalism is the dead hand of the living” Toshiko Takaezu, Japanese-American Ceramic Artist I feel very strongly that skill, technique and tradition are the wellsprings from which ideas flow – this can lead to innovation as our vision is extended beyond that which we know. I want to ‘know’ and understand my materials and tools as well as I can; continued experimentation is important to me. I do not plan my work as such, except in the broadest sense – evaluation of previous work leads on to new ideas – decisions are intuitive and I enjoy the spontaneity of working in this way. The outcome can only be controlled so far. The end result depends on the ‘serendipity’ of the combination of clay, oxides and the firing process. The inspiration for my work comes from the natural world – geological formations, strata and textures
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| Training |
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NCVEA in Crafts, Grennan Mill Craft School; Pottery Skills Course, Crafts Council of Ireland; Higher National Diploma & Honours Degree, Carmarthenshire College of Technology & Art, Wales. Masters Degree, National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
(More details on Career Page)
(Close up of Standing Form)
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| Lismore |
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For the last four years I have been living in the lovely award-wining town of Lismore, Co. Waterford, in the SE of Ireland. Recently Lismore Castle has turned the old Long Gallery into 'Lismore Castle Arts'.
(Lismore Castle & River Blackwater, more images on the "Lismore" page)
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| My Studio |
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My studio, 'Tin Shack Ceramics', is situated at the Old Railway Station. Unfortunately John O'Neill no longer runs 'The Centre for Traditional Skills' here, as they are planning to sell the place and I will soon have to find somewhere else to work!
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It was the Dispatch Office for the coal shed, which can be seen in the background, part of which is now my kiln shed. The shack is tiny - 3 metres X 4 metres, but easy to keep warm in the winter!
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| My Work |
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I love clay as a material and would hate to be restricted to only using it in one way - therefore I like to vary what I do with it usually working through a series in any one method. For the moment my main method of working is handbuilding using small textured slabs of clay, building up the shape over a former of some sort.
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| Panel for MA |
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An example of my work for my Masters which I just completed in June 2009 and I received my Degree on 2nd November 2009
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I throw small pots which are raku-fired, no two are exactly the same. I also handbuild, using the more traditional coil method, making individual raku-fired vessels.
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