Robin Welch has been a singular figure in British studio ceramics for at least forty years. His freely constructed vessels – hand-built and thrown - are three-dimensional abstract expressionism. He is the archetypal potter /painter. Whether his work is on paper, board, canvas or in clay, there is a constant and consistent creative flow.
The fit between pot and decoration is extraordinary, whether it be a beautifully thrown cylinder or a part hand-built, part thrown organically developed vessel.
Whilst he has always painted, his pictures have been seen more often in galleries in recent years. His images of vessels, in particular, reinforce the notion that his pots are three dimensional paintings, however his purely abstract mixed media work is particularly striking. The energy, which comes through in all of his work, belies his age – he was born in 1936.
In 1952 he studied at Nuneaton School of Art and the following year he
moved to Cornwall to study at Penzance School of Art where he was
awarded a National Diploma in Design for Sculpture and Ceramics. He then worked for a time at the Leach Pottery in St Ives.
Between 1956 and 58 he undertook National Service with the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
He was a Post Graduate Student at Central School of Art in London where he was later appointed a Technical Assistant in Ceramics. In 1960, he started his own workshop in London and part time teaching in schools and institutes. His work was accepted by the Council of Industrial Design and exhibited through the Design Centre London, in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Munich, Salisbury, Johannesburgh, Tokyo and Melbourne.
He moved again to Australia to help establish a pottery workshop with Ian Sprague and when he returned in 1965 he set up Stradbroke Pottery in Suffolk where he has lived and worked ever since. He has worked abroad often over the years - Craftsman in residence at Monash University, Australia; Alfred University, New York State College of Ceramics and Indiana University; Visiting Lecturer at many art schools
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1000 AND COUNTING!!
Milestones are inevitably a feature of our lives and no less so for Bevere Gallery which has in the past year registered the 6000th pot on our website. Now, we are happy to celebrate our one thousandth exhibitor. It could hardly have been more apposite for that exhibitor to be Robin Welch a doyen of contemporary studio ceramics and someone we have long wanted to feature at the Gallery.
The pots and paintings in this show were selected by Alastair and Kim Taylor and we are in no doubt that this intimate group of work represents a potter still full of creative energy. There are a number of potters that we have shown recently who seem to be as creative and innovative as ever, notwithstanding their advancing years. Robin was born in 1936.
The pictures and pots sit very well together and as we prepare for this show I am in no doubt that the pleasure that we have in putting the exhibition together will be equalled only by the pleasure and stimulation we anticipate it will provide for our visitors.
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