Stoke-on-Trent seeing the ceramics

Can’t say I’ve ever been to Stoke-on-Trent before but having a romantic idea of the brick built kilns from watching episodes of the great pottery throw down I may have expected something different. It’s the ceramics biennale, displays of work by current artists and new takes on some traditional forms  like the flat back sculptures that used to represent everything from murderers to bible stories with little charismatic but crudely modelled groups and individuals. It’s been a good day for inspiration. A reminder to not neglect my art and be bolder, keep confidence in my work and create things that mean something to me that will resonate with someone else and not necessarily with everyone. Forgot to take a sketchbook so a lot of things are in my camera but here are a few things that stood out on the day. I have no idea where they film the pottery throw down but it isn’t where I’ve been today. The old Spode factory is a grand exhibition space but reminded me of the loss of a massive industry.

Haven’t been here for a while!

A lot of things have happened since 2016, the lovely home in the countryside is now sold and I live a new life on my own in a great little terraced house in the heart of Leighton Buzzard town. I have the obligatory two cats but also a decent brick built workshop that I plan to keep making my glass work in and the blank template of a garden that is crying out to be turned into something that will take me through the seasons for the next few years. This isn’t where I expected or planned to be but I’m settling in well and getting ready for finding my new direction.

One of the places I have always wanted to visit is Iceland, so today, I’m making that happen. First trip solo, even that is an achievement for someone so panicky about travel arrangements that involve bus travel but here goes. Not so sure what visiting the blue lagoon in this weather will be like but I’m going to find out.