Profile and Influences

A displaced Londoner by way of the U.S. and Greece, I have lived and worked in Hastings since 1988.

My current work is one further step on a journey with clay that I embarked upon with my first show in New York in 1987.

My introduction to clay came during my B.Ed. degree at Goldsmiths College, University of London. I began employing raku and low fire techniques while teaching at Buffalo State University and later on my M.A. course at Wolverhampton University. I have pursued a variety of techniques throughout my clay career including soda, reduction and smoke firing to achieve dry, patinated and colourful textures. I use white stoneware and red terracotta clay to create texture and irregularities of tone.

My practice as a maker and artist has always been inspired by the transient qualities of memory and of vivid and fleeting observations. I strive to capture these ephemeral images through the use of different clays, clay slips and glazes and the use of coloured underglazes.

Recently I have found fresh inspiration through experimenting with collage and watercolour on paper to describe landscape and capture memories of places through composition. These collages have naturally flowed into my clay pieces.