ARTIST'S STATEMENT
My art is based on an urge to make objects for use. I am also fascinated by developing glazes for stoneware and porcelain. I want the effects of the extreme processes of firing in a high temperature atmosphere to be visible in my work so that the pots show their history.
My art is based on an urge to make objects for use. I am also fascinated by developing glazes for stoneware and porcelain. I want the effects of the extreme processes of firing in a high temperature atmosphere to be visible in my work so that the pots show their history.

I aim for the surface and form to convey the irregular and intimate quality of things made completely by hand. I know from my research that complex visual ideas can be transmitted through such slow physical and labour intensive technologies.
The passion I feel for the substance, texture and detail of raw materials from the natural landscape is expressed literally by experimenting with imprints, and collecting and incorporating locally sourced materials such as clays, sands and ashes
I trained on the Harrow Studio Pottery Course whose ideals and ethos underpin my work. I am grateful for the rich, technical training I received as its influences from the Arts and Crafts movement emphasised the social element of making high quality accessible craft objects. Ceramics from the Sung Dynasty in China, Japanese Bizenware and English Medieval pottery were also drawn on and still inform my work. Later training in art therapy led to collaborative and therapeutic work in the NHS, and subsequent teaching and PhD research at Goldsmiths examining the therapist’s art practice. My current studio in the Cotswolds will be the eleventh I have set up both for myself and organisations. I also like to teach and run workshops.
The passion I feel for the substance, texture and detail of raw materials from the natural landscape is expressed literally by experimenting with imprints, and collecting and incorporating locally sourced materials such as clays, sands and ashes
I trained on the Harrow Studio Pottery Course whose ideals and ethos underpin my work. I am grateful for the rich, technical training I received as its influences from the Arts and Crafts movement emphasised the social element of making high quality accessible craft objects. Ceramics from the Sung Dynasty in China, Japanese Bizenware and English Medieval pottery were also drawn on and still inform my work. Later training in art therapy led to collaborative and therapeutic work in the NHS, and subsequent teaching and PhD research at Goldsmiths examining the therapist’s art practice. My current studio in the Cotswolds will be the eleventh I have set up both for myself and organisations. I also like to teach and run workshops.
Biography
Studio Pottery training, Harrow School of Art
Self-employed Potter producing reduction-fired stoneware and porcelain, Oxfordshire and Devon
Arts in Health artist/potter, Warnford Hospital, Oxford
Part-time Ceramics Tutor, Social Studies students, Ruskin College, Oxford
Art Therapy training, Goldsmiths, University of London
Arts in Health artist/potter working with the blind and partially-sighted, Artlink, Oxford
Set up art and ceramic facilities in the NHS for art psychotherapeutic work, Henderson Therapeutic Community, Sutton, Surrey; and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Kent
Associate Lecturer, Art Psychotherapy, Goldsmiths, University of London
PhD research at Goldsmiths examining the role of the therapist’s art practice in clinical practice
Self-employed Studio Potter and Art Therapist, Gloucestershire
Initiated professional women potters group: The Potters' Jolley - inaugural exhibition Oct 2014
Galleries include
Oxford Gallery
Boadicea, London
Century Gallery, Henley on Thames
Casson Gallery, London
Otterton Mill, Devon
Modulus, Sutton Coldfield
The English Gallery, Ipresser
Beach-Thomas Gallery, Burford
Quadrangle Gallery, Oxford
Eynsham Crafts, Oxford
Well Walk Pottery, London
Phoenix Gallery, Henley on Thames
Golden Crane Crafts, London
West Ox Arts, Bampton: http://www.westoxarts.com/artists.html
Wold Galleries, Moreton in Marsh
Octagon, Whichford
Court Barn Museum of Craft & Design, Chipping Camden
Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot
Tudor House, Broadway Museum & Art Gallery in partnership with the Ashmolean
Cogges Manor Farm, Witney
Exhibitions include
CoSira exhibition, Abingdon
British Ceramicists, Piedestal, Brussels
Solo exhibition, Beach-Thomas Gallery, Burford, Oxford
Otterton Mill, Devon
Trinity College, Oxford
Curated Explorations in Clay, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
Curated Artefacts, research-related exhibition, Goldsmiths, University of London
Algebra, research-based exhibition, Goldsmiths
Topology of an archive I and II, research-related displays, Constance Howard Research Centre, Goldsmiths
Oxfordshire Open Studios
West Ox Arts, Bampton
Own Open Studios
Warwickshire Open Studios
Sculpture at Greyfriars and Friars Street, Greyfriars House, National Trust, Worcester
Four artists, Chedhams Yard Museum, Wellesbourne
The Potters' Jolley - 9 Women Potters, October 2014, 2015, 2016 The Little Village Hall, Blockley
Christmas Exhibition, West Ox Arts, Bampton
Summer Delights and Christmas Delights Exhibitions, Court Barn Museum of Craft & Design, Chipping Camden
2015
Made in Moreton, March, Milldene Garden, Blockley
Oxford Artweeks, 15th-17th May, Appleton Village Hall
Court Barn Summer Exhibition, 23rd May-7th June, Chipping Camden
Eynsham Craft Fair, 4th July
Summer Arts and Crafts Exhibition, West Ox Arts, Bampton
Potters' Jolley - 9 Women Potters, 10th & 11th October, The Little Village Hall, Blockley
2016
Red Exhibition, February, West Ox Arts, Bampton
Demonstration, Court Barn Museum, 30th, 17July 2016, Chipping Camden
Summer Arts and Crafts Fair, West Ox Arts, 30th July-21st August, Bampton
Lower Slaughter Village Hall, 5th -11th October 2016
Potters' Jolley - 9 Women Potters, 10am-5pm, 8th & 9th October 2016, The Little Village Hall, Blockley
2017
An extraordinary exhibition, 12 artists, Chipping Camden Town Hall, 13th-18th April 2017
Christmas Delights, Court Barn, Chipping Camden, 25th November 2017-7th January 2018
Arts and Crafts Talk: Transition initiated by changing sites of practice, 14th December 2017, Broadway Museum Events
2018
Potters' Jolley - 9 Women Potters and Guest Exhibitors 20th & 21st October 2018, Jubilee Hall, Blockley
2019
Potters' Jolley - 8 Women Potters and Guest Exhibitors 19th & 20th October 2019, Jubilee Hall, Blockley
Awards
Crafts Advisory Committee Setting Up Grant
Discretionary Grants, Oxford Education Department and Oxford Area Health Authority
Subjects Allied to Medicine Bursary for Research Students, University of London
Publications and research
1992i The organizational context of art therapy, in Waller, D. and Gilroy, A., eds. Art Therapy: A Handbook, Buckingham/Philadelphia: Open University Press.
1992ii An Investigation of Art Therapy Provision in Alcohol Services, MA thesis, Goldsmiths' College, London University.
1992iii Art therapy in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse, (with Waller, D) in Waller, D. and Gilroy, A., eds., Art Therapy: A Handbook, Buckingham/Philadelphia: Open University Press.
1993 Perceptions of art therapy and its absence in alcohol services: Research Report and Discussion, Paper presented at Conference: Theoretical Advances in Art Therapy, Warwick University.
1994 Perceptions of art therapy and its absence in alcohol services, Inscape, Vol 1(1): 15-18.
1999i Art Therapy and Art Activities in Alcohol Services', in Waller, D. and Mahony, J. eds, Treatment of Addiction - Current Issues for Arts Therapies, Routledge, London: 117-140.
1999ii (Ed with Waller, D.), Treatment of Addiction - Current Issues for Arts Therapies, Routledge, London.
2001 Three Commentaries: experiences at three exhibitions, Inscape, Vol 6(2): 51-62.
2007 (with Brooker, J. et al) Clinical Guideline: the use of art in art psychotherapy with people prone to psychotic states, Goldsmiths and Oxleas NHS Trust.
2009 An Art Psychotherapy Service Review of Activity and Developments (Key Note paper) Evaluation in the Arts Therapies: Best Practice Conference, Edinburgh [Practice Development Network: Arts Therapies, http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/2636.html and Scottish Arts Therapies Forum, http://www.satf.org.uk/events.html].
2010i ‘reunion of broken parts’ (Arabic al-jabr) A therapist’s personal art practice and its relationship to an NHS outpatient art psychotherapy group: an exploration through visual arts and crafts practice, PhD dissertation, University of London.
2010ii Contributions to Navigating Art Therapy, ed. Wood, C., Routledge
2011 Artefacts related to an art psychotherapy group, chapter in Gilroy, A., ed, Art Psychotherapy Research in Practice, Peter Lane.