My raku fired ceramic figures are inspired by dance and movement.I try to capture the tension and energy of figures caught in motion or the subtle potential energy during moments of stillness and reflection. The figures can stand alone or work together as though participants in a dance sequence, echoing and enhancing one another and in my imagination I see them as dancers in an ancient ritual, or circle dance; celebrating life and somehow drawing upon the energy of the earth. The ancient and exciting raku firing process that I use involves smoke and fire to bring the element of chance into my work resulting in unique and fascinating glaze colours and textures. The sets of glaze colours that I have chosen for each figure come from many glaze experiments and the colours that I see in nature. I have found further inspiration from ancient stone circles such as Avebury where the standing stones and surrounding trees resemble static or twisting dancers silhouetted against the sky line. I also particularly like the voluminous and stylized Neolithic carvings of female deities, as I am struck by the strength and power in such simplicity.
