Education
1983 Diploma in Wildlife Illustration, Dyfed College of Art
1996 BA (hons) Ceramics, Swansea Institute
1999 PGCE (Coleg Sir Gar)
2006 M.A. (Ceramics), U.W.I.C., Cardiff.
Personal Statement
My concerns focus mainly on figurative sculpture, conveying notions of presence through the female form. The concept of presence operates on three distinct levels namely; the presence of the sculpture, my presence as the artist, and the presence of the viewer who interacts with the work. Drawing on the philosophies of Merleau-Ponty, and Heidegger, the pieces explore precise moments in time and space. Through the surface treatment of the work, my own presence as the artist is evidenced. the highly graphic quality makes reference to drawing and the sponteneity of mark-making, and invites scrutiny by the viewer. The scale of the work varies, with the largest figures being six feet in height. I usually work with heavily groged clays such as crank stoneware, firing them to a temperature of 1100c.
DRAWING AND PAINTING
Working mainly in acrylic and pastel, my two dimensional work focuses on aspects of the coastal landscape. In particular I am fascinated by the geological surfaces and rock formations, eroded by the actions of the sea and the weather. Through intense observations within this environment, associations can sometimes be made with the figure, and human presence. these studies can inform my sculptural practice, resulting in strong sensual forms of the ceramic materials
