The work I produce is hand made stoneware tableware intended for everyday use.

The main focus of my work is placed on function, form and surface; I am still exploring the perfect balance of function and form, possibly the reason for my passion for teapots.

The surfaces of my pots have developed over a long period of time. I am quite obsessed with the depth, tone, carbon trapping and crazing. I encourage and endlessly attempt to control, in my shino glazes. I have recently also started to use tenmoku to offset some of the shino
pieces. However, the pieces evolve I attempt to search for the new and yet pay homage to tradition within each form I produce.

I value the individuality of each piece of work produced. Hence each piece will work as an independent piece or part of a set. The work is tableware although I do not seek to unify the work into a regimented service.

Pieces mainly are thrown and altered forms combining throwing and hand building, with the exception of the plates, which are thrown and altered into turned wooden sycamore moulds of my own design. This ensures an element of uniformity and control making sure each has an identical foot ring and depth, which allows for the free movement of the edges yet, still enables the plates to stack.

Glazes have been developed over many years now, I use several shino glazes, each having a different surface quality I use these in combination, building up several layers of glaze to achieve a variety of subtle variations in depth tone and surface qualities. I aim to achieve an individual response through the application and firing.

Plates are glazed with a high iron-bearing feldspathic glaze (temmoku) which compliment the shino glazed pieces, this is applied thickly to again obtain a dark depth of colour which has the properties of breaking to tone on the marks made on the form.
Many pieces of the work also include a high feldspar/lime glaze with small amounts of iron and cobalt which holds many appealing qualities, the glaze is used on the marks and detail on the forms, the glaze moves in a appealing and tactile manner, this glaze is often used in the centre of the under plates or on the inner surface of bowls to create a strong depth and contrasting surface texture.

The work is fired to cone 9/10 1280 to 1300 deg C through a reduction atmosphere.

In 2006 Maggie Barns initiated the opportunity for me to work in collaboration with Master Potter Vincent Potier in Sauve, South of France. Vincent Potier is an international prize-winning ceramicist.

I went to work in his studio during October 2006 & January and February 2008.

Vincent has worked his entire adult life with Shino Glazes on stoneware and porcelain using the same firing techniques as me.

Through exchange of ideas and techniques, I went to Sauve to clearly define the essential qualities vital to further development of both my form’s and surface treatment.

Since returning from France I am now placing more emphasis on hand built forms, the Box has always been a great interest of mine. ‘We seem to spend many years of or life in them’.

Vincent Potier, France

Vincent Potier	Vincents Pottery Sauve South of France