Why I make what I make

Artist statement

I wasn’t supposed to be doing any of this.

But that’s mental illness. It just happens. I had to press pause on my life. I joined a one day intro workshop to keep busy and distracted, and it changed everything. The slow and sensory act of working with clay with my hands slows everything down. I don’t use a wheel, I sculpt everything by hand. Just me, tools and clay.

I wanted to make something that hopefully viewers can connect to visually. Mental illness has been a significant part of my life. Both as a sufferer and supporter. It feels important to me to use a way to express something I feel strongly about through art. This has been a form of art therapy for me, and hopefully for a buyer who can relate. Or anyone who just feels these pieces are interesting.

My sculpture work focuses on the visual manifestation of mental illness symptoms, such as emotional overwhelm, depression and despair.

My sculpture work takes weeks to create, as I begin by creating the basic structure and dimensions, before using a mixture of tools and fingers to carve out the features. I then cut the piece in half to hollow out the inside, before I score and slip the piece back together.

I also hand build abstract vessels that primarily use the ancient Japanese technique of Kurinuki ‘to carve/hollow’, and these explore textural landscapes. Themes include wabi sabi and the ancient and mindful technique of Kurinuki ‘to hollow/carve’.

A recent comment on one of my sculptures was:

“I can relate to this, I feel like if you looked inside my brain that’s exactly what’s inside”

I’m currently being mentored by professional ceramic artist Adele Howitt at Studio Eleven Gallery on Humber Street Hull, where I rent studio space.

I participated in the British Ceramics Biennial’s Talent Development Program, and have found the guidance this has given me invaluable.

Recent involvement in group exhibitions include:

Boomer Gallery in Tower Hill London

Open Gallery in Halifax

Badger in the Wall Gallery North Yorkshire

Circular Artspace Bristol

Fringe Arts Festival in Bath

Housing & Homelessness Exhibition at The Undercroft Gallery Norfolk

Cupola Gallery Sheffield

Ampp Studios London

Emerging Art Exhibition Islington