I make sculptural vessels developed from landscape, from very specific sea shores, gardens and city streets that hold significance for me. I use different ways of capturing and interpreting these places, by photographing directly onto the surface, by imprinting, by piercing the form with objects, or by growing seeds within the clay. The clay is often pushed to the point of destruction, making the work extremely fragile but revealing its inherent resilience. Through my work I try to convey the layering of marks - physical and emotional, natural and unnatural, ancient, fresh, accidental or purposely inflicted, on places and people.
I live and work near Strangford, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Selected Exhibitions
2010
Slow Burn, Space Craft, Belfast
Cavin-Morris Gallery, New York
Galerie Besson Summer Show
SOFA New York
Galerie Besson Contemporary Ceramics Show
2009
SOFA Chicago
SDC Gallery
Orchard Gallery, St Ives
Galerie Besson Summer Show
SOFA New York
Diverse Practices Barrett Marsden Gallery, London
2008
Flora and Fauna, Craft Centre and Design Gallery, Leeds
2007
Downpatrick Library, Downpatrick, County Down
2006
Object, Designer Gifts for Christmas, Devon Guild of Craftsmen
Christmas Exhibition, Richard Dennis Gallery, London
Galerie Besson Summer Show
One Year On, New Designers, Building Design Centre, London
Plumbline Gallery, St Ives
Malone House, Belfast
2005
New Designers, Building Design Centre, London
Awards
2009
Arts Council of Northern Ireland and National Lottery Support for the Individual Artist Award
Education
2003-05 Dip HE Distinction in Fine and Applied Art, Ceramics, City Lit
1986-89 MA in Fine Art, Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford