RAMP
RAMP is Roop (and) Al Make Pots, a creative partnership between Alice Hartford and Rupert Johnstone.
Roop and Al met at Edinburgh College of Art in the late 1990’s and began working together as RAMP in 2001 at Cockpit Arts in Deptford, London. They make thrown earthenware and porcelain functional and studio ceramics. Roop specialises in the throwing of pots and Al’s focus is on the decoration.
On every occasion, when we have seen their work in ceramic fairs or galleries, we are struck by their decorative inventiveness and the quality of the making process. The decoration has a distinctive mid-century feel to it – that does not in any sense make it dated, rather that it has the strong contemporary feel that good design generates. As we know from showing their work in the Gallery, each piece has stand-alone qualities that may be one of a series, although clearly exceptional one-off pieces.
There are few ceramicists that work in partnership and RAMP have developed a creative relationship, which completely integrates the making and decoration. This is high quality work which looks good in any context and we know is enjoyed by visitors to the Gallery and the website.
In 2004, they moved to Devon initially to a studio at the Beaford Arts Centre, South Molton and in 2005, to their house and workshop in Silverton, just north of Exeter, where they have been ever since.
