A Midsummer Night's Dream
In the depths of the forest, nestling beneath the leaves and flowers and bathed in dew live the faeries. The sun by day and the moon at night penetrate the canopy and rays of light transform into the jewelled colours seen on my pieces. Intense greens and sapphire blues mingle with the more muted earth tones. It is a secret world of dew laden branches and spiders' webs which glisten in the moonlight and capture the magical mists that embrace the wood.
The characters are full of playful humour and their sense of fun is entranced when they discover everyday tins discarded by humans on the forest floor. The tins range from sardines and mustard to tuna and tea. The faery world finds these commonplace items objects of beauty and make them their own.
The world of Bottom and Titania and their magical kingdom have enthralled lovers of Shakespeare for generations now these mystical creatures are brought to life through the potter's art.
'Each piece is unique as I create a hand made plaster mould. It is a laborious process and one that can be fraught with difficulties. The figures take on their own identities like the characters they represent. Entirely sculpted by hand I use my fingers to create the feeling of movement as if the moment is glimpsed as out of the corner of the eye.'
The pieces are then hand painted with oxides and glazed using dipping and spraying techniques. The glazes are also hand made adding to the unique individuality of each figure.
The final effect is of early English pottery colours and the magic of some of Shakespeare’s best loved characters moving into the world of the 21st century and beyond.
In the depths of the forest, nestling beneath the leaves and flowers and bathed in dew live the faeries. The sun by day and the moon at night penetrate the canopy and rays of light transform into the jewelled colours seen on my pieces. Intense greens and sapphire blues mingle with the more muted earth tones. It is a secret world of dew laden branches and spiders' webs which glisten in the moonlight and capture the magical mists that embrace the wood.
The characters are full of playful humour and their sense of fun is entranced when they discover everyday tins discarded by humans on the forest floor. The tins range from sardines and mustard to tuna and tea. The faery world finds these commonplace items objects of beauty and make them their own.
The world of Bottom and Titania and their magical kingdom have enthralled lovers of Shakespeare for generations now these mystical creatures are brought to life through the potter's art.
'Each piece is unique as I create a hand made plaster mould. It is a laborious process and one that can be fraught with difficulties. The figures take on their own identities like the characters they represent. Entirely sculpted by hand I use my fingers to create the feeling of movement as if the moment is glimpsed as out of the corner of the eye.'
The pieces are then hand painted with oxides and glazed using dipping and spraying techniques. The glazes are also hand made adding to the unique individuality of each figure.
The final effect is of early English pottery colours and the magic of some of Shakespeare’s best loved characters moving into the world of the 21st century and beyond.
'I am such a tender Ass' - Bottom on a traditional tea caddy
'The Finch, the Sparrow and the Lark' - The singing Bottom seated
'The Ousel-cock so black of hue' - Bottom on a traditional tea caddy
'While thou on pressed flowers dost sleep' - Villa Sardine - Titania emerging from her sleep
'Out of this wood do not desire to go' - Titania emerging from her mustard tin with snail shell
'What Angel wakes me from my flowery bed?' - Sardine tin with Rose Fairy
'My mistress with a Master is in love' - Moth & Mustard seed Faerie Hares boxing on tins
Good master Cob-Web' - Tiny toy with snail in daisy resin
Tiny tins with Faerie Hares