I have been working in ceramics for about 4 years now, practicing first at Harrogate College and then expanding to get my own kiln, and more recently a Raku kiln. I previously dabbled with sculpture and stone carving in particular. That is a very slow process and eventually I moved on from it but have brought the sense of sculptural form with me. My pieces are often a very simple form relying on its sculptural qualities and a textural surface treatment.

I was most inspired by a recent trip to Iceland and have found that the combination of black clay, white porcelain slip and turquoise underglaze reflect the colours of the glacial lagoons there.

I use minimal surface decoration, mark making by carving into coloured slips or washing out resisted clay. My inspirations come from patterns in the landscape and nature; rivulets, roots, dunes, hashes and slashes. Rhythm is also a very important element to me in ceramics, and many of the processes have a rhythmic element to them. I find this very therapeutic and that is one of the many draws to the medium; it is also tactile, fluid, sensual and undergoes an amazing metamorphosis from a lump of sticky clay to the finished piece.