Beautiful ceramics, inspired by the landscapes in which they were crafted, are evocative reminders of places visited. We meet five ceramicists worth seeking out on your travels
An item of studio pottery or ceramic art, alighted upon while exploring a new region, can be a way of bringing a piece of that place home with you. Whether it’s a simple, tactile cup made for your morning flat white or an ambitious sculptural work destined for display, ceramics offer an intimate connection to the landscape and culture that shaped them.
Visiting a ceramicist in their studio, following an art trail or exploring a pottery exhibition are all rewarding ways to discover a region’s identity, landscape and creative community. Here, five ceramicists reveal how their work is shaped by the distinctive environments in which they live and make.
Sandy Brown
Appledore, Devon
Sandy’s studio in a former sail-making loft in the fishing village of Appledore has become a magnet for art lovers and collectors. It’s open to the public once a week and is a treasure trove of bold, vivacious pottery and sculptures, many of which are for sale.
Visitors also get the chance to admire Sandy’s large-scale sculptures, including the magnificent Temple (commissioned by Sotheby’s for an exhibition at Chatsworth House).
Working just a pebble’s skim from the Taw and Torridge estuary, Sandy has an appreciation of the unique quality of its light, which is reflected in her exuberantly coloured work.
‘The sensitive light allows me to develop nuances and subtleties to the colour, and I am drawn to the aquatic range of blues and greens,’ she says.
‘It also encourages me to use stronger colours and shapes, as it asks for an equality of strength.’
Lara Scobie
Edinburgh, Scotland
The graphic patterns, bold colours and quirky shapes of Edinburgh ceramicist Lara Scobie’s vessels make them a stunning centrepiece.
Although her distinctive work doesn’t specifically reference Edinburgh’s heritage, she feels that living and working in a beautiful city has influenced her output.
‘I feel very privileged to live and work in Edinburgh, as there is a wealth of creative energy in the city,’ she says. ‘Having so much accessible culture from great art galleries, theatre and music venues is always inspiring.’
‘I hope my work speaks of contemporary Scotland – a Scotland that is forward thinking and creatively innovative.’
Halima Cassell
Broome, Shropshire
Carved with intricate geometric patterns, Halima Cassell’s large-scale pieces fashioned from clay and other materials certainly bring the wow factor.
Born in 1975 in Kashmir, Pakistan, and raised in the north-west of England, she now lives and works in Shropshire.
From her studio overlooking the Shropshire Hills, she acknowledges the part the natural world plays in informing her sculptures.
‘The tranquillity and calmness of the rural landscape contribute significantly to my creativity,’ she says. ‘It gives me the space to think clearly when contemplating and working out new ideas.
‘As one of the most diverse landscapes in the world, spanning nine geological eras, the surrounding area offers inspiration in the form of dramatic topography, rolling hills and unique rock formations. It also provides ever-changing seasonal colours and textures through foliage and woodland.’
Jack Doherty
Penzance, Cornwall
Showcasing a subtle palette of smoky grey, lemon, russet and turquoise, Jack Doherty’s ceramic vessels capture the spirit of Cornwall.
The former lead potter of the renowned Leach Pottery in Cornwall reveals that the landscape, sea and light of the county have a deep influence on his creative processes, and his collectable pieces possess a tangible connection to the peninsula.
‘I love to look at the changing light, the sharpness of colour and the contrast between the changing weather and the solid weathered landscape,’ he says.
‘Somehow the colour of the sea and sky, and the texture of the cliffs and rocks of West Penwith, have found a way into my pots. Perhaps it’s not a surprise that the two essential materials in my work are china clay and copper: minerals that are deeply woven into Cornwall’s geological and social fabric.’
His studio and gallery in the former Trinity House depot on Penzance Quay are open for part of the week and well worth a visit.
Olivia Walker
Dartmoor, Devon
Olivia Walker’s intricate porcelain sculptures are intriguing: smooth white vessels that exude an almost ethereal, angelic quality. Embellished with delicate porcelain shards, their branched finger-like shapes suggest living organisms like coral or fungi.
They are beautiful pieces to collect or commission, and she feels that living and working amid the wild landscape of Dartmoor National Park has a subtle but constant impact on her work.
‘The woods, mosses, tors and rivers all provide what I think of as background inspiration,’ she says. ‘There is a walk from my house which leads to Overbrent near the Avon Dam reservoir, and I try to do it every week. Strolling along the same route through changing seasons lets you know a place deeply. The textures and surfaces that I observe along the way lead to new ideas for my work.’
Shaped by the landscape was one of the features in Vol 2 of The Scenic Route, the national magazine we write, design and publish for holidaycottages.co.uk Read more about the project.
