CENTRE FOR MODERN & CONTEMPORARY
STUDIO CERAMICS AND ORIGINAL ARTWORK

The objective of Andrew's work is to make ceramics which are considered to be individual pieces of art, to make forms which emotionally stimulate and/or satisfy the observer, and to make surfaces which retain interest and engagement with the piece. As the light changes in a room, or a vessel is rotated, a new perspective should arise to retain the engagement between viewer and object.

He has always been drawn to rough, hewn and natural/man-made surfaces, both in ceramics and in the world in general, and this fascination has become embedded into his work. Growing up in the coastal North West of England, he was surrounded by the sea and open nature, something taken for granted until gradually he was deprived of that environment whilst moving around the UK. Combined with a deep fascination of biological systems, culminating in a post-doctoral research career in molecular genetics at Cambridge, the wonder of surface, process and experimentation has always driven his work. In his ceramics, he exploits exaggerated classical glaze flaws, ceramic mistakes, which when understood, manipulated and correctly applied, he finds exhibit great inherent beauty. He is driven to make work with visually strong surfaces and which exhibit technically difficult, fluid and reactive surfaces. The aim is to balance the triumvirate of glaze chemistry against the vessel form and the appropriate hue.

The challenge of developing his own glazes, each of which reacts variably with different metal oxide slips / engobes, and determining the correct pre-firing application and post-firing modification methods is also a big draw to him.

He “enjoys” the challenge presented by such experimentations, interpreting the results and solving the complex questions they pose to ensure a successful ceramic piece exits the kiln firing.