Spring is in the air

Lovely to get pots outside to dry in the spring sunshine.  Adding oval dishes to the squared off dish range for 2016.

Happy Christmas

Well, that's the last fair of the year over - Stourhead this weekend - though I've still got work in the fabulous Workhouse Chapel Gallery in Sturminster Newton until Christmas Eve, the Hayloft Gallery in Wick Lane, Christchurch until 22nd December.  As well as the galleries who stock my work regularly - Rums Eg in Romsey,  the Creative Gallery in Wareham, Everycloud Gallery in Dorchester and the Regent Centre in Christchurch.  Sadly the Lazyhill Gallery in Abbotsbury will be closing after Christmas Eve, but still time for a quick look in there, the lovely Village Shop will be opening in the gallery space soon in the New Year.

So now it's making for Valentines, and a few days off over the festive holiday.  Have a great one everybody, and hope to catch up with you when I'm out and about with my pots in 2016.

Christmas is coming

With Christmas drawing closer minds turn to gifts.  I've just had a very successful and enjoyable weekend at National Trust's Stourhead in the beautiful county of Wiltshire - with the glorious autumn colours of the trees round the lake.  What a venue.  Bernard who organises those shows puts together a really wide range of makers and artists at each one of his events - and we will be back there again in December, for all those last minute gift ideas/solutions 12th and 13th December - in the hall at the Spread Eagle Courtyard.

My next fixture is the RSPB Forage Festival at Arne Nature Reserve, near Wareham on 31st October from 11am-4pm.  A great day out for all the family, and a chance to visit a really fascinating reserve at the top end of Poole Harbour.

The Creative Gallery Wareham will be hosting three guest potters for their December programme, as well as the resident artist/makers.  The Gallery will be open Monday-Saturday throughout November and December right up to Christmas Eve from 10am-5pm.

And my work will be joining an array of artist/makers at the Workhouse Chapel Gallery in Sturminster Newton from the 7th November-24th December:  Open 10am-5pm except Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Rose Hatcher, felt artist and host at the Gallery always offers a warm welcome.

There's also a chance to see/purchase my pottery at the Hayloft Gallery in Wick Lane Christchurch, open 10am-4pm daily 14th November-22nd December, and at the Briantspuddle Village Christmas Fair on 29th November 10am-4pm.

I hope to catch up with you at one of these events, and wish you a joyous festive season.

Return to blogging

Well - what a relief - I thought I'd lost the ability to blog, but here I go again - must have been some change in the bloggosphere that kept me out for a while - but I'm back with up dated information and images from NOW!

Busy June

After Purbeck Art Weeks at the Creative Gallery in Wareham, Rollington Barn in Corfe Castle, and the Swanage Fish Festival all ending on 7th June - I then took part in the Living Crafts at the Priory Church in Christchurch 8th-12th June and this weekend I'm joining some of the Dorset Old Birds at Hen Fest, a music event in Wimborne raising money for  research and care for those with cystic fibrosis 19th and 20th June ... so a generally busy June.
Also been asked to put some work into Forest Arts in New Milton - so that's another gallery to add to my list.

So here I am working away making some  more pots to replace those that sold!                                               

Dorset Old Birds

My good friend and fantastic jewellery maker Gill Smeulders has got together a group of craft workers from Dorset to make group bookings for craft shows/exhibitions.   Our first outing with seven members represented will be this coming weekend at "Harmony" at the Larmer Tree Gardens near Tollard Royal, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 5PT.
With the Birds in mind I've been making some new soap dishes ...

So why not come and find us there - Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th May.

Galleries for 2015

A new gallery for 2015 - Rum's Eg, 27 Bell Street, Romsey, Hampshire.  A really attractive gallery supporting Hampshire artists with a series of rolling exhibitions throughout the year as well as the permanent displays of local art and craft in the ground floor gallery space.  The first floor houses a cafe serving delicious light lunches and excellent coffee, and the second floor is used for workshops.  All very nice and worth a visit.  My fish pots seem to be going down well in Romsey, so I will keep up a steady supply there!

Sadly the Grey Door Gallery in Castle Cary has closed down, but I now have work permanently in The Workhouse Chapel Gallery in Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, in north Dorset which is open every Friday and Saturday 10.30-4.30, where Rose Hatcher, the fabulous felt artist has her work permanently on show along with a selection of other artists/makers who exhibit with her during Handmade for Christmas each November/December.

So you can now find my work in The Creative Gallery in Wareham www.creativegallerywareham.co.uk, The Lazyhill Gallery in Abbotsbury, the Everycloud Gallery in Dorchester, Christchurch Tourist Office (now in the Regent Centre, High Street, Christchurch) as well as Rum's Eg and the Workhouse Chapel Gallery.

Valentines and Gallery News

A Happy New Year to all - I've been preparing a few new pieces for Valentine's Day.  Large and small heart mugs are already available at the Creative Gallery in Wareham, and Rum's Eg at 27 Bell Street, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 8GY - a new Gallery for me since November - lovely space, with lots of lovely pots and other crafts.  More items to follow - large platters and bowls - as soon as they dry out and are ready for firing.
Rose Hatcher (felt artist) is opening her Gallery on Fridays and Saturdays during 2015 after the great success of her Handmade for Christmas exhibition.  I will have work on show there throughout the year. The Workhouse Chapel Gallery, Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1DR
Thank you all for your support during last year - I do so love making pots for you to use in your homes.

Christmas bauble mugs and soap dishes - new for Christmas 2014

Christmas is Coming!

As well as having a "Creative Christmas" at the Creative Gallery, St John's Hill, Wareham BH20 4NB during the month of December with all our resident artist/makers providing great ideas for Christmas gifts and cards, I will be showing work at the Workhouse Chapel Gallery in Sturminster Newton with Rose Hatcher and 20+ other artist/makers in "Handmade for Christmas" H4C - the exhibition also features the bargain balcony where all the guests offer items at reduced prices, so some great gifts at not so great prices there. 8th November - 24th December.

From the 23rd October-3rd November I am joining East Dorset Potters at the Gallery Upstairs at Upton Country Park near Poole, and again with EDP we are exhibiting at Highcliffe Castle from 4th November-Christmas Eve.

On 25th October I have a stand at the RSPB Forage Festival at Arne Nature Reserve, near Wareham, Dorset and the same day the Dorset Pottery Group annual exhibition starts at Bridport Arts Centre, running to 8th November.

Then two smaller local Christmas Fairs I enjoy taking part in are at Tolpuddle Village Hall 30th October-1st November and Briantspuddle Christmas Fair on 29th November.

My final show of the year will be with the National Trust at Stourhead, Stourton, Wiltshire - a most festive end to a busy few months of exhibiting and potting.

Highcliffe Castle

Preparing for thee East Dorset Potters exhibition at Highcliffe Castle - "Drawn to Clay" - the group met up at the Castle to gather ideas for a piece of work featuring some aspect of the architecture, setting, or interior of the venue.  This is my platter, so far unglazed, which I'm hoping to put into the exhibition along with other platters I've created over the last few months with Purbeck landscape and Hengistbury Head/Mudeford images.

A busy start to the year at the Creative Gallery in Wareham - but now all is redecorated, and the signs were renewed just in time for Purbeck Art Weeks - 24th May-8th June.

New Purbeck Series platters for Purbeck Art Weeks.  Durdle Door and Old Harry Rocks - there are so many iconic landscape images available to us in our beautiful county of Dorset and along the Jurassic Coast.  It's not wonder that Purbeck Art Weeks have such a diverse selection of workshops and studios/galleries to visit.  A sample of many of the PAW exhibitors' work can be seen in a single visit to Rollington Barn in Corfe Castle.

Valentine's Day

As usual I've produced a range of items for Valentine's Day.  Mugs, jugs, platters and bowls, as well as heart brooches and cards.  All these are available for sale at the Creative Gallery Wareham, Everycloud Gallery Dorchester, Lazyhill Gallery Abbotsbury and Christchurch Tourist Information Centre.

Creative Gallery Wareham

Since taking over the Creative Gallery in Wareham in March life has been so busy there doesn't seem to be a spare minute in the day to write a blog or catch up generally.
As well as displaying the work of new resident makers I've introduced a Maker of the Month series at the Gallery to keep the place looking fresh for those who visit regularly, and created a Calender for 2014 with a photograph of each exhibitor's work shown on "their" month.
Please visit the Gallery's website to find out more:  www.creativegallerywareham.co.uk

Or better still come and visit us:

St John's Hill, Wareham BH20 4NB
Heading south through Wareham it is the last turning on the left before you reach the Quay, follow the signs for Motability!!  You will find the Gallery on the left hand side of the small parking area.

01929 551700

Opening times:
Winter:  Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Summer:  Daily 10am-5pm

Mad Summer

It's been a bit of a mad summer with lots of fairs and fantastic as the sun has been shining on us.
Milton Abbas Street Fair was as always great fun, the downpour at 3pm made for interesting packing up, but the gazebo really came into its own.
Mudeford Arts Festival was a bit windy, but the crowds were out as usual and a good time was had by all.
Mudeford clashed with Bovington (Dorset Arts and Crafts Association Annual Exhibiton) this year because the RNLI had to move their annual event at Mudeford to have favourable tides.  I had to call in several favours to attend both, so thank you to Shirley, Margaret and Jo for helping out with the stewarding and serving in the Gallery.
Next year the DACA Exhibition moves to the Purbeck School in Wareham and I'm hoping to take items from all the makers at the Creative Gallery to help publicise our presence there.
The Southern Ceramic Group exhibition at the Bishop's Kitchen in Chichester was a huge success with over £10,000 in sales for the group.  Fantastic setting and as the years pass more and more people find us there.

Now there's just Melplash Show on 22nd August and Swanage Folk Festival 7th/8th September to go before the autumn shows begin.  Melplash Show (which is really in Bridport) was a joy last year - it's a delightful day out, not at all commercial, a proper country show with something for everyone.  And Swanage Folk Festival is always a pleasure, though a bit weather dependant, the dancers and singers are out in force and the whole town comes alive.  Come and find us in the craft marquee at both events.

More Gallery Changes

As I'm now getting less making time with the work involved in running the Creative Gallery, Wareham, I have decided to withdraw from the Black Barn Gallery at the Ginger Piggery.

So currently my regular outlets are:

Creative Gallery, Wareham
Everycloud Gallery, Dorchester
Grey Door Gallery, Castle Cary
Lazyhill Gallery, Abbotsbury
Love Fish, Southbourne
Tourist Information Centre, Christchurch

Purbeck Art Weeks 2013

Corfe Castle - this platter is one of a range I produced for Purbeck Art Weeks 2013 for display at The Creative Gallery, Wareham.
I will be adding more to the range over the next few months and hope to exhibit  several pieces at the last Dorset Art and Crafts Association Exhibition to be held at Bovington Middle School - 2nd-6th August.  As from 2014 the DACA exhibition will be moving to the Purbeck School in Wareham.

Gallery News

Two really exciting bits of Gallery News .......................

Firstly Jill and Michel Rousseau who used to own Wessex Fine Art and Ceramics in Wareham until they went to run a gallery in France eight years ago are now back in the UK and today opened their new gallery in Castle Cary, Somerset.  Called the Grey Door Gallery in Woodcock Road they will be hosting some of the finest potters in the UK - and most flatteringly are going to stock my work on a regular basis.  Check out their website www.thegreydoorgallery.co.uk

Secondly, and more importantly for me, I've take over the Creative Gallery in Wareham.  Initially the gallery will remain much as it has been exhibiting the paintings of the Towler brothers - Graham and Cliff - Dorset land/sea scapes and birds, and the pottery of Rosemarie James and myself.  But over the next few months I will be extending the range of work on display - Caroline Walker, photographer has already joined us, Gill Smeulders (jeweller), Linda Rowe (glass) and others will be joining shortly after Easter, followed by a few other regulars.  Then I will set up a rolling exhibition programme featuring an artist/maker of the month.

Our first major event will be Purbeck Art Weeks which runs from 25th May-9th June.  During that time the Gallery will be open daily from 10am-5pm.  Wareham has a host of good eateries and interesting independent shops, as well as walks along the river or round the walls, and is surrounded by beautiful countryside - so why not come and visit us then.  The Creative Gallery, St John's Hill, Wareham BH20 4NB.

New Gallery

A new gallery for February - Every Cloud Boutique Gallery at 3 Nappers Court, Charles Street, Dorchester DT1 1EE
A really attractive little gallery in the centre of our County Town, Dorchester.  Charlotte stocks a really excellent range of jewellery and smaller items as the gallery is quite small - an ideal place for gift buying.
www.everycloudboutique.co.uk

Noah's Art

Most exciting, and a good start to 2013.  I have been invited to put some work into an exhibition "Noah's Art" at the Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham, TW1 3DJ.  I took the pieces up there yesterday - and it's in a lovely setting beside the Thames, and near St. Margaret's Station, South West Trains.  The exhibition runs from 13th February to 28th April, with a Private View on Wednesday 13th February from 5.30-7.30pm.