carys davies porcelain
news
22 April 2013My visitor's blog summarises my recent internship at Nesta - see also the Living Map of innovative projects for older people. |
24 February 2013I'm currently an intern at the innovation foundation Nesta. Many exciting new ideas to bring back to the world of craft, some described in a recent blog entry. I'll be back in the studio in Mid-April. |
14 November 2012
Crafts magazine reviewed my installation at MCDC in the Nov2012 issue, just in time for the charity auction there, which was exciting. All the auction work sold, many there were new buyers of craft, which was gratifying. view review |
31 October 2012
Thanks to all who came to MADE London, and it was great to meet you all. I'm hoping this will become a recurring date in the craft calendar! |
24 October 2012Come and see me at MADE London 25-27 October. Stand 46! I'm bringing some new calligraphy on paper and porcelain to the show. It's the first MADE in London, following their success in Brighton. |
28 Sept 2012You may notice some changes to my website - I have been looking at Jacob Nielsen'd famous usability guides and tried to implement them here on my site. Please contact me let me know what you think. |
24 August 2012I'm pleased to report there's an article about me and my work in the Sep/Oct 2012 issue of Ceramic Review magazine. I will post the pages here once the issue is no longer the 'current' issue - until then, please buy one! Once archived, you can also buy and download the article - £3 for galleries - from Ceramic Review. |
31 July 2012Some new pictures in a new section 'texts' under 'selected work' in the side menu. Sussie Ahlburg is the most fantastic photographer of objects and took them for me for the forthcoming Ceramic Review article - out Aug 13th - so I though I should put the highlights here. The text work is working well for commissions and site-specific projects too, so there's more images under that heading. |
30 July 2012I've just sent work to aspex in Portsmouth for an exhibition with the really great name of "There will be no slow motion" - definately worth a visit if you are nearby. The Jane Adams Galley in Cornwall is also showing my work, as will Oriel Davies Gallery in Newtown, Wales, in the early autumm. As usual, the galleries who like my work are primarily by sea or mountains... | 22 June 2012I'm extremely pleased that Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery have bought a large volcanic bowl for their collection. This is my first piece to go into a permanent collection. The connection with the sea is particularly important for Plymouth and for me and embodied in this piece. |
8 June 2012I've just returned from Manchester, where I've been commissioned to make an installation to celebrate the 30 years of the Manchester Craft and Design Centre.
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30 May 2012Very, very many apologies to anyone who has been trying to access my website today. I am trying to fix the problems as fast as possible. For those technically inclined, the explanation is that I moved from Windows-based hosting to Linux-based hosting. I've managed to fix some of the problems, but not all, and as they are due to this software change at the server I can't just put my old website back up. |
25 May 2012You can see my work at two new showcases this summer, one at nesta , at 1 Plough Lane in the heart of the City of London, and also at Cardiff's Craft in the Bay Summer Show. |
17 April 2012: thinking about making
I've started writing more about the process of being a maker. This is partly to clarify things in my own mind, by "talking aloud", but also, I hope, to start a conversation
about how and why things get made with anyone who is interested.
Before the Internet (yes, I can remember that far back), I worked a lot with the Social Computing Research group at IBM on how to build communities online within the company. So I'm also very interested
in how to make it work in the new open web, and so have decided to write using
WordPress,
an open source project which shares these aims. |
30 March 2012
I spent an extremely enjoyable afternoon with cross stich and cake in Ealing. |
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It's strange how you have different conversation when you're working with your hands... |
Sadly, I made a mistake in my quotation - it should be out in the dark, but never mind. We Make Here.com We Make Here on Facebook
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1 March 2012
I've just installed some new work at Cotehele, an amazing National Trust property in Cornwall - just up the Tamar from Plymouth. It's a fascinating place: it reminds me of my Oxford college - Jesus - with its quadrangles and halls. and I loved researching the history and the people for it. I'm getting more on this ready for the 'special projects' section of the site
top | 27 January 2012
I've always hoped to exhibit at Ruthin Craft Centre on the borders of Wales - there's a great route there over the horseshoe pass from Llangollen. Ruthin always have fabulous shows both in their newly rebuilt centre and at Collect and other international shows.
I showed the sea-change, pebble, and moss series - which you can see in 'selected work' here on my site, as well as some new work where I write on pots and arrange then into boxes on the wall.
Catrin Howell was at Ruthin installing her solo show - so beautiful - and Pater Bodenham and Anne Gibbs are among the other artists in the show. It's on until the 18th March 2012, and there's a beautiful catalogue too. top |
22 November 2011
A great new book on colour in glazes includes my 'moss' glaze seen here in an extract from the book. The extract is available to download from amazon where the book is also available. Colour Glazes by Linda Bloomfield
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8 August 2011
It was fantastic to arrive at the Eisteddfod to find I had won £1500. Robyn Tomos from Y Lle Celf had told me, but in Welsh, so I thought I must have misheard. I celebrated by buying Clogiau Goffa Wrecsam - the Eisteddfod Memorial Clogs - from Trefor Owen. I reckon they will be great for the studio.
top | 20 July 2011
My first year at Art in Action, at Waterperry near Oxford... It's a beautiful and calm
environment, I would pick up a cup of tea on my way to look at the flowering magnolia grandiflora,
before a quick turn among the roses. I showed more of RS Thomas' crockery in the 'best of the best' tent.
About eighty people got to make their own installations at my stand, in the 'Theatre of Pots':
here's just one.
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10 July 2011
I'm absolutely delighted to have been selected for the
National Eisteddfod 2011 exhibition. Taking part in this cultural
festival of music, performance, and visual arts is the absolute
pinnacle of achievement for Welsh speakers. This year it is in Wrexham, in the first week of August.
Gwych!
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20 June 2011
The contemporary craft fair at Bovey Tracey was fantastic again for my third visit. Full of interesting
people and work, although I must say I enjoyed most the fabulous knitting wool shop
Spin a Yarn as well a most interesting tour of handlooms at
Bovey Hand Weavers nearby. You can really see how mechanisation changed the
craft of weaving across the looms in the weaving shed. Instructive.
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22 May 2011
It was great to contribute to
FOUND - a garage sale raising money for the
wonderful Kettle's yard in Cambridge. Many thanks to
a gifted existence blog for the image.
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3 April 2011talk in cambridge - 4 May 2011
I'll be talking about my work at Contemporary Craft in Cambridge in the first week of May - the gallery is in
bene't street near the centre of Cambridge. Although we can't fit a wheel in there I will show
some of the stages of making the work, as well as sources of inspiration. It would be great to see you.
From 6-8pm on Wednesday 4th May - for more details contact Rhiannon at
Cambridge Contemporary Craft.
I work for the potter Edmund de Waal - much of the work in the left hand picture above is his. I'll also talk about this briefly - we are working on an exhibition at the Fitzwilliam nearby, for example - and can answer some questions on his book, 'the hare with amber eyes'. Open Studio in London, 7-8 May 2011
If you are in London, come to our Open Studio on the 7th and 8th May at the studio in Tulse Hill.
This shot shows us in ordinary mode - we'll get the bunting out for the actual day. We will be open 11-6 on Saturday 7th May and sunday 8th May 2011. Hannah James and Barry Stedman will also be open, as will Melissa's pottery around the corner.
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31 January 2011
Here's a taster of some new work with both writing and stacking. This stack includes an RS Thomas poem "The Bright Field". I like the idea that the poem gets re-written when the plates are re-stacked, and the idea of different people having different plates, and different parts of the poem. |
17 November 2010
Pullens yards in Kennington have a fantastic Winter open studios full of wine, food,
artists, craftsmen, designers, and, this year, including me! I will be at no 8 Iliffe Yard, the guest of DSDHA, 2010 architects of the year, sharing with the wonderful jeweller Claire Stratton. Friday 3 December 6-9pm Saturday 4 December 11-6pm Sunday 5 December 11-6pm 8 Iliffe Yard, off Walworth Road, SE17 3LH Street parking available from 6:30 Friday Tube: Kennington or Elephant and Castle
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15 September 2010
Please do come to our Open Studio! 10-6 Sat and Sun, 2 and 3 October 2010 We are opening as part of 'Open Lambeth' - you will find us under 'Parade Mews' - or pick up a leaflet from the studio.
Other galleries who've recently started stocking my work include: (click on name to go to the website) atelier in Barnstaple New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham Cambridge Contemporary Crafts in Cambridge
top | 16 August 2010
I've been looking at old tea and coffee cans recently - the Ashmolean's re-opened with
amazing gallery of old Worcester china. You used to get one saucer, a coffee cup, and a tea cup
- called a trio. I've added a jug - and am making them in multiple glazes - these are just two.
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15 June 2010
We had great weather at Bovey Tracey for the contemporary craft show - great camping, with viennoiserie from the French Saturday market as a bonus! As usual there was all kinds of great work at the show, I was tempted into buying some wonderful earrings from Becky Crow.
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07 June 2010Please visit me if you can at the Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey in Devon. It's on from the 11-13th June, for full details click on the name above and their website will open in a new tab or window.I'm on stand C21, near the entrance to Marquee C. I love going there - the Fair is run alongside The Devon Guild of Craftsmen and shares their great mix of great work and a relaxed atmosphere.
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29 May 2010Thank you to all who came to the Dulwich Festival - we were very busy, though not too busy to eat cake - and it was great to see many of you again as well as welcome new people to the studio.
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15 April 2010Coming up soon is the Dulwich Festival - we will be taking part, opening the studio onSaturday 8th and Sunday 9th May 2010 11am-6pm We'll have copies of the Artist's Open House booklet, which includes maps and details of other artists, as well as tea, coffee and cake so you can have a rest! You might want to also visit the Dulwich Picture Gallery - it will be the last two days of their Paul Nash exhibition, opening 11-5. They also have a great cafe, which opens at 10am both days. Our address is: 6 Parade Mews Norwood Road London SE27 9AX We are about 5 mins from Tulse Hill rail station, there's no parking at the studio - I recommend nearby Palace Road, and the tfl website for buses - the P13, 2, 432, 196, 68 and 468 are just a few of the buses that stop nearby. top
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9 March 2010Do come to see my work at Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park, London. I shall be showing with Shirley Crowther Contemporary Art stand K3. The times and dates are:Thursday 11-Sunday 14 March 2010 Drinks reception Thursday 5:30-9:30pm (call me for tickets) 11-6pm daily top
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16 February 2010If you want to see what I look like, then the Contemporary Craft Fair have a video of the 2009 Fair in which I appear - it's about 3 minutes in to the 5 minute clip, I'm the one with glasses and a black cardigan on.Clip of 2009 Craft Fair top
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13 December 2009Many thanks to all who came to the Open Studio, despite the torrential rain! We really appreciate the effort, and hope you enjoyed the parkin and banana cake. Here's some of the work that was on show:top
I've been making a lot of jugs - small and large - which seemed very popular. I'm also making 'stacks' - a jug, inside a mug, inside a bowl, inside a dish - inspired by the old 'solitaire' breakfast sets made in Stoke in the nineteenth century. 
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01 November 2009topIt seems a long time to Christmas but I know many of you like to get ready early! We will be having a Christmas Open Studio in Tulse Hill on the first weekend in December. 11-5 Saturday 5th December 2009 11-5 Sunday 6th December 2009 Hannah James and Barry Stedman have joined the studio since last Christmas and will also be showing work. I will also have work at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen's Christmas show All Wrapped Up , 21st November - 3 Jan 2010 and at the Cambridge Contemporary Art gallery 's Christmas show, from 14 November to 24th December 2009. |
21 September 2009
I am extremely pleased to be included in a great show of work at
Shirley Crowther Art.
The show starts in Ditchling, in a fantastic building where Frank Brangwyn lived and worked. Huge, light rooms
hide behind a secret ivy street front.. We are also part of Lambeth Open - a new initiative - where artists across the borough are opening their studios. We will be open 11-6pm on Sat 3rd and Sun 4th October. top
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18 July 2009
It's been a while since I updated the website - the reason is shown in the image below...
We have just finished installing a huge installation for Edmund de Waal: pots on a red shelf high in the dome
above the entrance hall of the Victoria and Albert Museum, in the new Ceramics Galleries.
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9 June 2009
I had a great time at the Bovey Tracey Contemporary Craft Fair - The Devon Guild of
Craftsmen were really fabulous. We had a month's worth of rain on the Saturday, but
spirits were not really dampened at all. I camped by a little stream a stone's throw from
the Fair, with a hot water bottle filled at the cafe at the Guild!top
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20 May 2009
The CUP exhibition at Bovey Tracey has started. I've made a big
conglomerate - a heap - of cups for them, as though excavated from the wreck of
a china clipper ship... Luckily it also got there in one piece! It's a great exhibition,
with huge felt pictures of cups - wonderful Elspeth Owen cups - lots to look at and think about. top
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11 May 2009
Dulwich Festival 'Artists At Home' was very enjoyable - it was great to meet other local artists
as well as inviting people in the local community into the studio.top
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02 April 2009
Coast magazine has included some of my work in its April issue - both
volcanic bowls and some of the sea-change series.
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10 January 2009We are going to be part of 'Artists At Home' during the Dulwich Festival The studio will be open on the 9th and 10th May 2009, from 11-5pm. The Festival publish a booklet with details of all the places open, so let me know if you want one and I shall send it on once it is published!top
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23 December 2008
I have been accepted for the exhibition CUP at the
Devon Guild of Craftsmen's
new exhibition space in Bovey Tracey. The exhibition will have work from established and new makers,
exploring this theme. I am planning to make some work inspired by my 'heaps' in the sea-change
series. I'm not sure how cup-like the vessels need to be so I hope to use the exhibition as a
chance to explore a number of new ideas. top |
12 December 2008I had an Open Studio on the 9th December 2008 as part of the Parade Mews Open Studios. Many thanks to all who came. We drank Pimm's Winter Warmer and ate fruit cake as an early Christmas celebration.top
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22 November 2008Pictures of my work appeared in three magazines in the run up to the Brighton Craft Fair - November Homes and Gardens, BBC Homes and Antiques, and Coast magazine.
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The installation will use the stories collected by artist Lucy Harvey during her