Here’s a bit of info about my background in ceramics.

I studied Ceramics and Printmaking at University and then became a qualified teacher of Art and Design. I have worked in various international and British schools both in the UK and in the Netherlands, where I have lived since 1999.

I have always wanted to work with clay for as long as I can remember. I am a naturally inquisitive and tactile person, and am frequently tempted to reach for the objects behind the ‘do not touch’ signs in shops or galleries. I am fascinated by how things are made, although I often got into trouble as a child for dismantling said things to find out! This inquisitive nature has since proven to be an invaluable trait (thankfully) for working with clay and its often surprising and playful nature.

You will often find a cultural or social reference in my work. For the Cultural Transitions exhibition, I developed a number of pieces that explore the natural and man-made boundaries visible in the Dutch landscape. I am really interested in how the lowlands have been influenced and developed by geophysical constraints and the need to maximise the available space. This is obvious in urban and agricultural planning and the architecture that is so typical of the Netherlands, and I am always intrigued to see how I can reflect this in my ceramics. I also try to incorporate a variety of printmaking techniques into my clay building. My recent work explores the effect of relief in combination with light on the surface of high-fired porcelain.

My imprinted porcelain tiles of historic canal houses have iconic status within the Dutch culture. The playful and whimsical nature of the details that are pressed into the clay, sometimes using very recognisable objects, provides a new perspective every time. Although similar, each piece has its own unique character.