Welcome to my new look web site. Its not yet been fully tested so I expect a glitch or two!
Send me an Email to confirm any orders just incase the Pay pal does not work smoothly. Please use craggst@btinternet.com rather than the using the contact page. Thanks in advance for your patience.
The Northumberland County Show, Bywell, near Stocksfield 27th May 2013
This is my first show of the year. I am exhibiting new ceramics and paintings. With 25,000 expected attendance it will be an interesting day. Hope you can come to see my stand.
I am very excited to be firing Raku work developed over the winter in time for the show. Both figurative and pots will get fired this week. It is a huge undertaking in time and effort but the colours against the black crackles are so impressive the process is addictive and extremely smokey.
My paintings have been influenced by early summer changing light in the landscape. A favourite effect is low morning sun from behind you illuminating the fresh greens against a dark brooding northern sky. I am currently working on a set of oil paintings requested by the Haslam Gallery, Hexham to be hung in the autumn. Up Front Gallery Cumbria have also requested Lakeland scenes. So I have been very busy, appreciating these longer days to paint in.
Most of the winter was spent creating ceramic pots, although this would seem a departure from my figurative forms. Hand built pots have a sculptural quality. The slower carefully considered process of hand building each pot has given each a personality, At the moment about 35 pieces have been bisque fired (first firing before colour glaze is added). Previous larger pots suited a series of blue washes, these have taken on the appearance of seascape paintings. Which in turn inspired some of the new pots to include mermaids and girl on a rock figures on their lids. (I knew I wound not stop figure work). I am looking into wood firing possibilities later in the summer to finish this body of work.
